Ar🐎uba.it Racing Ducati have officially unveiled its 2022 WorldSBK colours for riders Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi. 

Aboard a revi🍸sed, but not brand new Panigale V4-R machine, Bautista and Rinaldi will be look🐼ing to bring the Italian manufacturer its first WorldSBK title since Carlos Checa did so in 2011. 

Bautista, who returns to the team following a stunning season in 2019 - claimed 16 wins as a rookie, 11 of which came in succession to begin the season - showed im🔥pressive pace during the𒆙 team’s lone pre-season test at Portimao last month. 

Both Bautista and Rinaldi will be back in action during this week’s twꦬo-day Misano WorldSBK test which begins on Wednesday. 

Speaking at theꦇ team’s presentation, Bautista said: "I am very happy to be back in this fantastic team, with Aruba.it and Ducati. It feels like a real family to me and finding basically the team I worked with in 2019 has be♏en of great importance. 

"My feelings with the 🍌Panigale V4R were immediately very positive: I think the bike is even more bala♏nced than the one I left. 

"With such a competitive tea♋m and machine, ob꧒viously the goal is to fight for the title. 

"I have more experienc🐟e, I know the tyres and the format of the competition better, but it will still be crucial to learn from the mistakes of three years ago. Winter tests got me very excited and I can’t wait to get on track at Aragon."

For team-mate Rinaldi, the Italian has not been able to match Bautista’s performance in testing after suffering from back problems due to a nasty crash at the 2021 season finalꦬe in Mandalika. 

A three-t🧔ime winner in 2021 - four-time WorldSBK race winner overall - 2022 is likely to be a crucial season for Rinaldi after being convincingly beaten by new BMW rider Scoไtt Redding last year. 

The Italian acknowledged as much by saying his 'future' with Ducati 'could al🎐so depend on this season'.

"The 2022 championship is about to start: it will be my second season with the official team even though I have been part of the Aruba.it fami𝓡ly for many years now," said Rinaldi. 

"This is why the time has come to reap the benefits we have sown so far. It will not be easy bꦬecause the competition is very fierce but I beli🎐eve that these years together can be a solid base to create something good. 

"It will be a very important championship both for me and for the team anܫd my future ca☂reer could also depend on this season. 

"I will certainly give my best and with the help of the team I am sure we can achiev꧂e important results.&nbs꧟p;

"I’m very happy and I want to thank Aruba.it, Ducati and all the sponsors who have allowed me to take on this fascinating chಌallenge."