Mark Aitchison has secured a spot on the 2013 WSBK grid with the Effenbert Liberty team. Image: Effenbert Liberty.

Mark Aitchison’s racing plans for 2013 have been revived with the announcement he will join the World Superbike (WSBK) Effenbert Liberty Racing squad as the pilot of the team’s Ducati 1098R from Spain onwards.

The Australian rider had secured a seat with British Superbikes team Splitlath Redmond before the team was forced to withdraw its entry due to the ill-health of co-owner John Dimbylow.

It left Aitchison, who has 35 World Superbike starts under his belt, on the sideline, but talks soon began with Mario Bertuccio who has confirmed the signing with the Prague-based team ahead of the Aragon event this weekend.

“We are very proud to be able to line up our Ducati 1098R also this year,” said Bertuccio. “We want to face the championship with determination. The 2012 season for us was particularly hard and therefore this year we have the opportunity to rewrite positively our future.

“We have a lot of trust in Mark, that I desire to personally thank for having accepted to belong to our team helping us to realise, with determination, our project.”

Aitchison was appreciative of the opportunity and acknowledged it would take some time to become accustomed to the new bike.

“I’m very happy to have found a place in the World Superbike Championship for this season,” said Aitchison. “I am really looking forward to starting this new project with the Effenbert Liberty Racing Team as it’s a great opportuntity.

“Of course we know that it will not be easy coming in late to the series. We have had not testing and development time, so it’s fair to say we have planned to use the first few rounds to accustom myself with the bike and team.

“I will do my absolute best I can for the team, and I’m sure once we find a good direction and rhythm the results will come. At the moment I’m just focused on enjoying the racing and enjoying getting back to SBK after my team BSB are no longer running.”

Aitchison is an experienced and highly-regarded rider within the WSBK. He raced a strong first season in Superstock 1000 competition before three years in World Supersport and a further two years in the top-tier Superbike class.

His best result is a ninth place finish achieved with Team Perdercini Kawasaki at the Imola circuit in 2011.