Having joined Aprilia 🐬for the Sepang tests, the factory has now officially signed Lorenzo Savadori as a MotoGP test rider.

The🌼 Italian was called-up during the reshuffle that followed Andrea Iannone's ongoing suspension for a failed doping test.

Iannone's usual winter work has been given to current test and wild-card rider Bradley Smith, who is also pencilled in as a race replacement should I💙anno𝔍ne not be able to line-up on the grid in Qatar on March 8.

Savadori was in turn brought in to take on some of Smith's usual work, spending much of the Malaysian tests on a 2019 spec bike as he learned the ropes before a deb🌄ut on the all-new 2020 machine.

Sa꧂vadori's best time🌼 was 4.8s from Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha) and 3.4s from Smith.

'The good outcome of that test and the big j𒐪ob of development that awaits the new bike were the key elements in the decision taken by Aprilia Racing and Lorenzo in launching this collaboration' said an Aprilia statement.

Nonetheless, the news that Savadori ha🍨s now been signed asﷺ an Aprilia test rider suggests the factory does not expect a speedy conclusion to Iannone's case.

“I am truly very happy to continue racing for Aprilia Racing," Savadori said. "The role of MotoGP tester lets me get close to this category, which is the maximum expression of world mot😼orcycle racing. I am honoured and pleased to be part of this project.

"I wish to thank all of Aprilia Racing and everyone wh🌳o made this opportunit﷽y possible. Now I can’t wait to get started!"

Savadori will also race⛎ in the CIV Italian Championship for the Nuova M2 Racing team, with which he won races lꦦast season:

"The Italian championship will also be at a very high lev🌱el this season. Along with Nuova M2 Racing, we’ll be working very hard and passionately to hold the newও RSV4 Factory 1100 high.”