Regis Laconi will remain a factory Aprilia rider for the 2002 season but not in World Superbikes as expected but aboard the new GP1 Aprili🔯a RS3 as the Italian firm r❀eturn to the premier MotoGP category after a one-year sabbatical.

Aprilia's 2002 World Superbike factor🥂y effort looks set to be a one-rider team focused solely around the mercurial Noriyuki Haga after it was confirmed that Frenchman Regis Laconi will spearhead the marque's factory GP1 (formerly MotoGP 500cc) assault next year.

Laconi, who partnered theಞ also departed Troy Corser in 2001, won the final WSBK race of the year at Imola and will be the marque's ღsole factory representative on the 2002 GP1 grid.

The 26-ye𓃲ar old Frenchman spent six seasons in the 500cc class, most recently in the Red Bull backed Yamaha squad alongside Garry McCoy in 2000, finishing every one of the 16 races that year in the points, netti💮ng 12th place in the points table.

After temporarily withdrawing from 500cꦗc racing in order to test and develop the four-stroke RS3, Aprilia look set to be a major force in the new look Championship next sea👍son despite being numerically outnumbered by the Japanese factories.