Gresini Racing’s switch to Aprilia power for MotoGP 2015 has been confirmed by the firm’s parent group, Piaggio, this morning, in a four-year deal with the team.

President and CEO Roberto Colaninno released a statement which said Aprilia would be back next season in a collaboration with Gresini a year earlier than previously planned. It means Gresini will run Aprilias until the end of 2018, about which Gresini is very pleased.

“I am very glad that Aprilia identified Gresini Racing as the ideal partner to enter the MotoGP World Championship. I would like to thank the Piaggio Group for giving me a fantastic opportunity, that is working closely with such a glorious manufacturer; an Italian brand that has become synonymous with a passion for racing, reaching amazing results worldwide," said Gresini.

“The four-year agreement between Gresini Racing and Aprilia opens a new chapter in our history: in this moment I feel a great responsibility, but the motivation to succeed in this exciting, all Italian challenge is even bigger. The Grand Prix world is part of the Aprilia brand and to represent it in the premier class, the MotoGP World Championship, is a source of great pride for all of us. An incredible reward for the work done in all these years by Gresini Racing.”

It is expected that Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri will ride for the team next season. There was no mention of Gresini’s contract with Scott Redding and whether this now leaves him free to pursue the factory Honda Gresini has given up or sign for Pramac Ducati.