Source: Supplied.

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has signed Aleix Espargaro to a two-year contract to race the RS-GP in the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP World Championship seasons, reuniting him with the Italian manufacturer.

Espargaro currently sits ninth in this year’s standings with Suzuki, however his deal aboard the GSX-RR wasn’t renewed as the factory took on Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins for next year.

In 2009 he made his debut in the top class where he drew attention during the 2012 season astride the ART (the CRT bike developed by Aprilia Racing), finishing the season as the best rider in the category. That result was repeated the next season as well.