Source: Supplied.

Althea Racing has confirmed that reigning Superstock 1000 FIM Cup champion Raffaele De Rosa will take on a development role alongside a selection of Superbike World Championship appearances in 2017.

The 29-year-old Italian De Rosa will ride alongside Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger aboard the Althea Racing BMWs after impressing in Qatar’s final round of last year with 12-9 results.

“I am extremely happy to continue this partnership,” De Rosa said. “My goal was to attend the entire SBK season, the team and I have invested all our energy for this purpose, however it was not possible. I believe that this collaboration for 2017 is very good because it means that there is the will to carry out a common project.”

Team manager Genesio Bevilacqua commented: “I am very pleased to announce the continuation of the relationship with Raffaele who should be given credit for having always believed in our team. Despite not having from the very beginning a SBK bike for him, the team and I will work in function of his future in order to achieve the best possible results.

“I consider Raffaele a great rider capable of indicating the path of development, achieving my esteem and that of the whole team and I am sure he will prove to everyone the professional maturity reached after two years together.”

Taking the position of De Rosa on the Althea Racing BMW STK1000 entry will be countryman Marco Faccani, 22, who won the Superstock 600 crown back in 2014. He was 11th in last year’s STK1000 point-standings.