Melandri returns to MotoGP with Aprilia

Marco Melandri has secured his return to MotoGP after a four-year absence by securing the final seat on the 2015 grid with Gresini's new Aprilia program.

The 32-year-old won five grands prix during his initial MotoGP stint from 2003-'10. Although he rode for the factory Yamaha, Ducati and Kawasaki teams, his greatest seasons were all with Gresini, then a Honda satellite team but now becoming Aprilia's factory partner for its MotoGP return.

Melandri has spent the past four seasons in World Superbikes, finishing in the top four in the championship in every year. He rode for Aprilia this season after previous campaigns with Yamaha and BMW.

"I was offered the chance to develop a completely new project and it is something that I have not yet done in my career since I have always had 'inherited' bikes," explained Melandri. "Precisely for this reason I am very intrigued by this challenge. I am working with a company and a racing department which sought me out and with which I want to continue to work in order to develop and grow a great project.

"Aprilia Racing has always demonstrated their ability to make great bikes and make them fast. I'll put in my efforts. Our goal is quite ambitious: to grow a bike and at the same time to develop a new prototype that will race in 2016. It will be a demanding season and a lot of work but we are ready to take on these challenges."

Melandri joins existing Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista, who is going into his fourth season with the team. Both men had the chance to try the Aprilia at the end of Monday's Valencia test, after it had been shaken down by ex-MotoGP rider Alex Hofmann.

2015 MOTOGP LINEUP SO FAR:

Honda: Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa
Yamaha: Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo
Ducati: Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone
Suzuki: Aleix Espargaro, Maverick Vinales
Gresini Aprilia: Alvaro Bautista, Marco Melandri
Forward Yamaha: Stefan Bradl, Loris Baz
Avintia Ducati: Hector Barbera, Mike di Meglio
Cardion Honda: Karel Abraham
LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow, Jack Miller
Tech 3 Yamaha: Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro
Marc VDS Honda: Scott Redding
Aspar Honda: Eugene Laverty, Nicky Hayden
Pramac Ducati: Yonny Hernandez, Danilo Petrucci
Ioda: Alex de Angelis