Aitchison to return to WSBK action

Mark Aitchison will ride a BMW in the 2012 Superbike World Championship for a privateer Italian team, preserving Australia’s enviable record for having at least one full-time participant in the title since way back in 1990.

Aitchison, 28, competed in the 2011 WSBK title on the unfancied Pedercini Kawasaki, producing a number of impressive qualifying and race performances, with a best finish of ninth at Imola in Italy.

He will now join the Italian-based Team Grillini operation in 2012, which has been involved in grand prix projects over the last two years and was a brief WSBK collaborator way back in 2008.

“I'm really excited about this new challenge ahead of me in 2012,” said Aitchison. “My first year in SBK was very important, I learnt a lot and I hope it's the turning-point for more success in 2012.

“The Grillini team was interesting for me because it's made up of a small group of people who have the ambition and desire to work as a team and this was a factor in my decision.

“We know that it'll take some time to develop the BMW, especially as the championship is about to start shortly, but with the program we have ahead of us I know we can reach the aims we've set for ourselves. Now I can devote myself to training and getting ready for the first tests before the opening round at my home track in Australia.”

Before the announcement of Aitchison’s participation in 2012, Australia was on the cusp of not having a full-time WSBK rider for the first time since way back in 1989 – the second year of the production-based championship.

In 1990, Rob Phillis joined the WSBK title full-time on a factory Kawasaki -- the first Aussie to do so.

With Aitchison’s entry at Grillini locked in, the 2012 WSBK grid has just about taken shape, with a slew of riders out to wrest the title from current No. 1, Ducati rider Carlos Checa.

They include Aprilia pair Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty; factory BWM riders Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri; Honda duo Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama; Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes; and Suzuki teammates John Hopkins and Leon Camier.

Australia will also be represented in the 2012 Supersport World Championship with Newcastle’s Broc Parkes on a Honda.

Prior to round one of the Superbike and Supersport titles, the final pre-season test will also be held at Phillip Island on February 20-21, in what will be the final shakedown for teams and riders before the heat of battle.

To purchase tickets for the opening round, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or ring the SBK toll free hotline on 1300 728 007.