Bradl leaves Forward Yamaha, joins Aprilia

Stefan Bradl has signed with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini for the remainder of the 2015 MotoGP season to partner Alvaro Bautista.

The announcement follows on from Bradl's swift departure from Forward Racing Yamaha after the owner and director of the Swiss-based team, Giovanni Cuzari, was arrested and charged with a number of offences. Frenchman Loris Baz remains with Forward Yamaha Racing, but won't be competing at this weekend's Indianapolis round of the MotoGP title — which is where Bradl will make his debut with Aprilia.

Bradl replaces Michael Laverty, who had stepped in to ride for the German GP after the team had parted ways with Marco Melandri. Laverty will return to his duties as the official test rider for the team.

Bradl, 25, made his debut in world championship motorcycle racing in the 125cc category in 2005, and was the 2011 Moto2 world champion. His rookie year in MotoGP came in 2012 astride a Honda, a bike that Bradl raced for another two seasons, taking a second place finish in the 2013 United States Grand Prix as his best result.

This season Bradl has participated in the first eight Grand Prix races on the calendar astride the Forward Racing team Open class Yamaha, earning 9pts and is currently 19th in the standings. A fractured scaphoid in his right wrist suffered during the Dutch GP at Assen forced him to miss his home race at the Sachsenring on July 12, but after using the summer break to recover he is now ready to race at the Indianapolis GP.

At Aprilia, Bradl replaces Michael Laverty, who had stepped in to ride for the German GP after the team had parted ways with Marco Melandri. Laverty will return to his duties as the official test rider for the team, as well as competing in the 2015 British superbike title.