Ducati has announced the return of Alvaro Bautista for the 2022 WorldSBK season.

Bautista will replace the outgoing Scott Redding, who is set to join Michael van der Mark at the Shaun Muir Racing-run BMW in 2022.

Bautista joins Aruba.it in 2019, where he recorded 16 victories (24 podiums in total, before finishing second in the championship standings.

However, he decided to move to Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) a year later before the two face many difficulties caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, the former 125cc world champion in 2013 will return onboard the Panigale V4 R in a bid to challenge the 2022 championship title.

Meanwhile, RC Presiden, Shinya Wakabayahsi, expressed his gratitude towards Bautista for his commitment for the last two years.

“At the end of 2021, our collaboration with Alvaro Bautista will draw to a close.

“The last two years have been intense, characterised by the unexpected and imposing challenges posed by the global pandemic and by the significant work involved in a fledgling project like ours.

“We would therefore thank Alvaro and wish him the very best for the future.”