Michael Laverty replaces Melandri for German GP

Laverty will be a permanent replacement for Marco Melandri with effect from this Grand Prix.

Michael Laverty will rejoin the MotoGP™ class for the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland this weekend and continue to be a permanent fixture in the Aprilia Racing Team for the rest of the season. So far this year, the Northern Irishman has been racing in the British Superbike Championship for Tyco BMW onboard an S1000RR.

With Aprilia & Marco Melandri having decided through mutual consent to part ways, Laverty was a logical choice as a replacement having served as a test rider for the RS-GP.

Michael Laverty: “I'm excited to be back on the MotoGP grid this weekend for the German GP. Competing against the regular guys racing MotoGP is a tough task, but I am relishing the opportunity. I have been riding with the Aprilia test team so I am comfortable with the Aprilia RS-GP machine and the Bridgestone tyres. Firstly I must adapt the race bikes to suit me and then look to keep progressing throughout the weekend. Álvaro has been riding strongly in this first half of the season and I have witnessed some great development work through the test team. I now look forward to being a part of the racing team."

Michael is one of three Laverty brothers who race professionally: he is the oldest, followed by John and Eugene Laverty. Eugene already races in MotoGP™ for the Aspar MotoGP team, making the lavertys the second pair of brothers in this year's championship, alongside Aleix and Pol Espargaró.