Aprilia to return in 2009

Roberto Colaninno, the president of Aprilia"s parent company Piaggio, confirmed at the launch of the Italian manufacturer"s new 750cc road bike that their race department would return for the first time since Noriyuki Haga ran a single bike in 2002.

"We will return to Superbike and, possibly, MotoGP," declared Colaninno.

Aprilia have eight World Superbike wins to their name between 2000 and 2002, with seven to Troy Corser and one to Regis Laconi.

But their focus in recent years has been on the small-engined classes on the grand prix calendar, with four titles in the last ten years in the 125cc world championship most recently with Alvaro Bautista and five in 250s, with Jorge Lorenzo the last of them.