Davie Giugliano makes a welcome return to the WorldSBK paddock this weekend, racing for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team for the first time in 2015.

He had previously been ruled out of action following a crash in pre-season testing at Phillip Island and was substituted for by Troy Bayliss and Xavi Fores.

“It’s great to be able to come back for Imola, the home track,” Giugliano says. “There’ll be a lot of expectation but the fact that I’ll have a lot of supporters there will give me an extra push. I like the track and we were fast there last year, even though we were unable to score the results we deserved come race day.

“This year it seems like we’re more competitive but, seeing as I’ll be getting on the bike for the first time in three months, I’m going to have to work hard to regain the feeling with my Panigale R. Physically I’m feeling quite good, but over the last two months I’ve been unable to train as I normally would - only doing some swimming and rehabilitation.

“Obviously the level of physical preparation is not as it was when I arrived at Phillip Island, but we’ll know more once I get back on the bike – I can’t wait to restart!”

Imola marks the first of two race events in Italy this year, as the Riviera di Rimini round at Misano will follow next month.