Marco Melandri is to leave the San Carlo Gresini MotoGP team at the end of the season to race in the World Superbike Championship.
MotoGP rider makes Superbike switch
Marco Melandri is to leave the San Carlo Gresini MotoGP team at the end of the season to race in the World Superbike Championship.
The Italian rider is to join the factory Yamaha team in the production bike series as a replacement for Britain's Cal Crutchlow, who is moving to MotoGP next year to race for Yamaha Tech 3.
Melandri, a former 250cc world champion, enjoyed success with the Gresini team during a three-year stint between 2005 and 2007 but his return has not brought the desired results.
He currently lies in ninth place in the MotoGP riders' standings, with a best result of fifth place achieved at his home race at Mugello in June.
"It was a difficult decision because this is the best team I have worked with in my career," said Melandri.
"But I felt that I needed a new challenge and the genuine opportunity to be back fighting for wins and podiums led me to make this choice.
"I'm very happy with this new challenge, it's a big change and I want to fight for World Superbike wins."
