Former MotoGP™ rider Marco Melandri is present at the Gran Premio TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini this weekend and is pleased to see Gresini Racing and Aprilia Racing agree to team up for 2015.

The former 250cc World Champion and MotoGP race winner left Grand Prix racing at the end of the 2010 season and is currently riding for the Aprilia Racing Team in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship.

Asked about whether he could be returning to MotoGP to be reunited with the Gresini Racing team - for whom he rode in the 2005-07 period – and to ride the Aprilia next year, Melandri answered: “It’s nice to see Gresini and Aprilia together. For me I will stay for sure with Aprilia. I have to understand what they will do, even in Superbikes, but I feel at home with Aprilia. So it’s going to be great to try and develop the bike myself.”

“I want to be back (in MotoGP) but I don’t want to be just a number. I know at the beginning it’s not going to be easy. I’m sure working step-by-step we can get a good result.”

Melandri’s aforementioned 250cc World title was achieved on Aprilia machinery in 2002. He later spent eight consecutive seasons in the premier class riding Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Kawasaki machines, with his five MotoGP victories coming during his spell with Gresini.