Source: Aprilia Racing.

Italian megastar Max Biaggi will return for wildcard appearances in the 2015 Superbike World Championship, confirmed to contest the Misano and Sepang rounds for Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils.

Biaggi retired at the end of 2012 as reigning world champion, but has been active in a testing role with Aprilia during this season. A racing return has been speculated for months, now made official.

The 43-year-old Biaggi becomes the second former world champion to make a return to WorldSBK this year, after Troy Bayliss rode for Ducati in Australia and Thailand.

Over his six seasons of WorldSBK from 2007, Biaggi collected a total of 21 race victories, 70 podium finishes, five pole positions and 18 fastest laps.

Prior to his superbike career, he won four consecutive titles in 250cc Grand Prix racing between 1994 and 1997. He went on to finish runner-up in the 500cc class in 1998 and 2001, as well as MotoGP in 2002.

Meanwhile it’s also been announced that factory test rider Luca Scassa will enter a third Panigale R as part of The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team, alongside official riders Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies.