Aprilia could join forces with Shaun Muir's SMR 🍌team for a factory-backed return to World Superbik💖e in 2017.

The Italian manufacturer won the World SBK title in 2010, 2012 and 201꧂4 before concentrating its efforts on MotoGP.

A last-minute deal with Ioda kept the RSV4 on the grid this year, with rookie Lorenzo Savadori claiming multiple six top-six fiꦺnishes on a bike that has had 'zero' development.

Inspir✨ed by such results, Aprilia Racing director Romano Albesiano confirmed that the factory is interested in forming a partnership with Shaun Muir's Milwaukee-backed squad.

SMR won the British Superbike title with Tommy Hill (2011) an♒d Josh Brookes (2015) before moving to World Superbike this season. T🐈hey currently run Brookes and Karel Abraham on BMW machinery.

"We are having some talks with Shaun, who I meet in Misano and made a very positive impression. He is a very professional guy," Albesiano told mahbx.com.

"The [RSV4] being raced at the moment isও the same as last year. Zero development. Because we signed🍃 with Ioda a week before the season began, so we had no possibility to make any kind of development.

"But if we can define a plan quite early, we can make a proper development next year♛ for Shaun and maybe also for Ioda."

Albesiꦑano confirmed that such a partnership woul❀d allow Aprilia to concentrate on the technical side, while SMR provide the race team.

"It would be good to be there in a way we can afford ܫ- from a work force point of view - because most of the workforce is now here in MotoGP. If we can do a good job in World Superbike, why not?"

A proven, high-profile 💎rider wo🌟uld be needed to help justify such factory support - and a former Aprilia star is available in the form of Eugene Laverty.

Currently in MotoGP with Aspar, Laverty won ten World SBK races for Aprilia and was the 2013 title runner-up. Is Laverty of interest for the pr🐠oject?

"Sure. Eugene is a very ✃good rider and did very well with Aprilia in the past," Albesiano said. "[The riders] will be a team choice anyway, not just our ch🐓oice."

Laverty is also in talks with Yamaha and Ducati about a possible World ♈Superbike return, alongside discu﷽ssions to stay in MotoGP with Aspar, where he is tenth in the world championship.