Forward Racing confirms MotoGP exit

The Forward Racing team has confirmed it is set to leave the MotoGP grid at the end of the season after announcing a new partnership with MV Agusta in the World Superbike and World Supersport championships in 2016.

The Swiss team, which runs Yamaha machinery in the Open class, will step away from the premier category after a four-year spell having claimed the Open championship in 2014 with Aleix Espargaro.

The decision has been made after Forward signed a partnership with MV Agusta to take charge of its World Superbike and World Supersport teams in 2016, with Forward Racing chairman Giovanni Cuzari acting as team principal.

Former 250cc world champion Marco Melandri has joined Forward as official test rider with MV Agusta, while announcements on World Superbike and World Supersport riders are expected in the coming weeks.

Forward will still be a presence in the MotoGP paddock after maintaining its commitments in Moto2 for next season and have already announced Lorenzo Baldassarri as one of its riders for 2016.

Current Forward MotoGP rider Loris Baz is confirmed as moving to Avintia next season. Team-mate Stefan Bradl left for Aprilia in the aftermath of financial problems following Cuzari's mid-summer tax investigation.

Bradl took over from Marco Melandri, who was named as a test rider for the new Forward-MV Agusta project. Cuzari meanwhile stated that the eventual aim is to return the famous brand to grand prix.

"MV Agusta represents the best the Made in Italy can offer and this collaboration will surely be a great growth opportunity for all in order to reach the top of WSBK and to aim for MotoGP," he said.

Toni Elias is riding alongside Baz for the remainder of this season.