Source: Supplied.

Spanish veteran Alvaro Bautista will make a return to the Pull & Bear Aspar Team for the 2017 MotoGP World Championship, entering a satellite specification Ducati Desmosedici GP16.

Bautista won the 2006 125cc World Championship as part of Aspar’s team. He rode within the squad between the 2006 and 2009 seasons, before moving to MotoGP with Suzuki’s factory team in 2010.

Following two seasons at Suzuki, Bautista transferred to Team Gresini in 2012 when he finished fifth in the world championship and has remained part of the Gresini fold since. The last two seasons he has been Aprilia-mounted.

“I am happy to be returning to what was my home for many years in the world championship, where I enjoyed my best results including the 125cc World Championship title and fought for another title in 250cc,” Bautista explained.

“I am happy and motivated to be going back and especially to have another year in MotoGP, a new adventure. Over the years I have grown a lot and I have much more experience now. I am confident that with this team we can be competitive in 2017.”

Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’ commented: “For the Aspar Team it gives us great pleasure in every sense to welcome Alvaro Bautista back. As a team we picked up our first world championship title with him back in 2006 and we enjoyed some wonderful years together.

“Our professional and personal relationship with him is excellent and for the team and our sponsors this is great news. My hope and desire is that this brings great results for Ducati and for us. It is important for us to have a Spanish rider with his record and his professionalism. He can give us an advantage on track.”

Current Aspar Team riders Yonny Hernandez or Eugene Laverty have been linked to be partnering Bautista in 2017, while replacing him at Aprilia Racing Team Gresini will be Aleix Espargaro and Sam Lowes.