Alex de Angelis has been👍 officially confirmed as replacing Colin Edwards for the remainder of t𝓡he 2014 MotoGP World Championship.

Edwards was due to retire at the end of this y🧸ear, but - for reasons not yet fully explained - has stepped down following his final hom﷽e appearance at Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Texan still hopes to race as a wild-cardꦡ at Silverstone and Valencia, while de Angelis will be at all eight remaining rounds alongside Forward Yamaha's Open class leader Aleix Espargaro𝓡.

de Angelis raced for Forward in Moto2 during 2012 ꦑand 2013, switching to Tasca Raci⛎ng this year, where he is 14th in the championship standings

"I have always considered our team as a big family and Alex has already been part of our team," said team owner Giovani Cuzari. "Moreover he has experience in MotoGP so I thought that he was the best rider to line up with our co🍌lours and I'm happy to give him this opportunity to return in the premier class".

30-year-old de Angelis previously raced full time in MotoGP for Gresini Honda, claiming one podium finish inജ 2009, with stand-in appearances in 2010 (Interwetten Honda) and 2013ౠ (Pramac Ducati).

"It's a dream come tru🍸e for me to return in MotoGP," said de Angelis. "I was working on this project last year, when I was racing with this team. Racing the second part of the championship with the NGM Forward Racing Team on board of a Forward Yamaha it's a great occasion and I'd like to thank Giovanni Cuzari for this opportunity as well as the Tasca Racing Team that released me.

"I know that it won't be easy for me to be competitive from the beginning as we have no time test the bike before Brno, but we will give my best. I can count on a very good team an𒈔d competitive package so I really look forward to it."