Alex de Angelis stays in MotoGP for 2015 season with Ioda team

The 30-year-old from San Marino, who was a podium finisher during his only previous full-time MotoGP campaign with Gresini in 2008-09, returned to the premier class from Moto2 in the summer to replace Colin Edwards at Forward Racing.

With Forward opting to sign Stefan Bradl and Loris Baz for 2015, de Angelis will take the Ioda seat left vacant by Danilo Petrucci's switch to Pramac Ducati.

"This enhances even more my decision to leave the Moto2 class to move back up to MotoGP," said de Angelis.

"We will begin immediately by testing on Monday to see what our potential is.

"I want to thank [team owner] Giampiero Sacchi for giving me this opportunity and for organising everything in such a short time."

Sacchi said de Angelis would be a good fit for his team, one of the smallest in MotoGP, and added that he was glad to have played a role in Petrucci's career.

"Alex de Angelis is a sensitive and talented rider, with whom we can deal with confidence in the complex adventures of MotoGP," he said.

"At the same time I'm also glad I gave a chance to Danilo Petrucci to become a MotoGP rider."

2015 MOTOGP LINE-UP SO FAR:

Honda: Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa
Yamaha: Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo
Ducati: Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone
Suzuki: Aleix Espargaro, Maverick Vinales
Gresini Aprilia: Alvaro Bautista, tba
Forward Yamaha: Stefan Bradl, Loris Baz
Avintia Ducati: Hector Barbera, Mike di Meglio
Cardion Honda: Karel Abraham
LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow, Jack Miller
Tech 3 Yamaha: Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro
Marc VDS Honda: Scott Redding
Aspar Honda: Eugene Laverty, Nicky Hayden
Pramac Ducati: Yonny Hernandez, Danilo Petrucci
Ioda: Alex de Angelis