Source: Supplied.

Outgoing MotoGP contender Alvaro Bautista has been drafted into the factory Ducati Team to replace injured athlete Jorge Lorenzo at this weekend’s Phillip Island grand prix.

Bautista, who’s set to transition to WorldSBK in 2019 with the Ducati factory squad, matched his career best finish of fifth at the weekend’s grand prix in Japan and was the first Ducati rider across the line aboard his Angel Nieto Team-prepared Desmosedici GP17.

“It’s like a dream come true to work in the Ducati factory team,” Bautista commented. “First I wanted to say thank you to Jorge Martinez Aspar and the Angel Nieto Team because they’ve let me race with the Ducati factory team, and also to Ducati to give me this opportunity to work with them during the Australian GP.

“I’m so excited to ride with them and the weekend will be to learn and to enjoy, without pressure or a result in my mind – just enjoy the work with the factory.”

It’s understood former Australian superbike champion and current Spanish Speed Superstock 1000 contender Mike Jones has been linked to filling in for Bautista at the Angel Nieto squad. Jones has previously completed two MotoGP races while filling in for Hector Barbera at Avintia Racing in 2016 at Phillip Island and Sepang.