Michael Laverty menggantikan posisi yang ditinggalkan Melandri di Aprillia

Marco Melandri dipastikan tidak akan membela tim Aprillia Racing pada seri Jerman pekan ini. Melandri dan Aprillia Racing telah menandatangani pemutusan kontrak kemungkinan akibat hasil yang tidak memuaskan baik pencapaian Melandri maupun Perkembangan Tim Aprillia sendiri.

Kosongnya posisi tersebut ternyata dengan cepat diisi oleh pembalap Michael Laverty yang tahun ini telah membalap dengan motor S1000RR Tyco BMW

Michael Laverty: “I'm excited to be back on the MotoGP grid this weekend for the German GP. Competing against the regular guys racing MotoGP is a tough task, but I am relishing the opportunity. I have been riding with the Aprilia test team so I am comfortable with the Aprilia RS-GP machine and the Bridgestone tyres. Firstly I must adapt the race bikes to suit me and then look to keep progressing throughout the weekend. Álvaro has been riding strongly in this first half of the season and I have witnessed some great development work through the test team. I now look forward to being a part of the racing team."