The Spaniard's long-rumoured return to MotoGP follows a pair of private test sessions a💞t Misano on the factory's title-winning Desmo❀sedici.

Bꦿautista, currently on course for back-to-back WorldSBK crowns, will race in his usual Aruba.it colours on the latest Desmosedici machinery, as used by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro during his wild-cards at Mugello and next month's M🔜isano round.

The Malaysian Grand ꧒Prix takes place after the 𒊎end of the Superbike season, at Jerez, on October 29.

“I’m reall🧔y happy to be able to race in MotoGP as a wild-card at Sepang, a track that I really like and that I’m happy to be back at since it’s not on the WorldSBK calendar," said, 🐷Bautista, whose last MotoGP race was at Valencia in 2018.

"The tests♔ with the Ducati Desmosedici GP gave positive feedback: the feeling was good, and I had fun. I want to sincerely thank Ducati and Aruba.it because, without them, it would have been imp🦩ossible to have this opportunity.

"At the same time, I would like to 🎃say that this MotoGP race will be a bonus for me and not a priority. That’s why we m💦ust stay focused on the WorldSBK Championship, which is the only thing that matters now. I want to stay focused for this last part of the season, which will be very demanding, with many races in a short time.

"The feeling with the Panigale V🔜4R machine is good, and I hope to continue on this path🃏. Then, when the season ends, we’ll think about going to Malaysia and having fun. Now I’ll have a little holiday, and then we’ll be back at Magny-Cours.”

While Bautista talks of having fun, many will point to the similarไities with fellow Ducati WorldSBK champion Troy Bayliss.

Bayliss, like Bautista, did not win a race during his full-time MotoGP career but took 😼a stunning victory as the reigning WorldSBK champion during a one-off return for the factory at Valencia in 200💖6.

That was the same year that Bautista won the 125cc title. He then moved 🍷to 250cc, doubling hi🐻s eight grand prix wins, before a MotoGP debut with Suzuki in 2010.

When Suzuki withdrew, Bautista spent three sඣeasons at Gresini Honda, claiming three podiums and a career-be♈st of fifth in the world championship.

The Spaniard rem♍ained with𝔉 Gresini for its switch to the new Aprilia RS-GP project in 2015 and 2016, before joining Aspar Ducati for 2017 and 2018.

Without a MotoGP seat, Ducati tempted Bautista to WorldSBK, where h💦e won his first ten races but still ended up losing the title to Jonathan Rea. Two disapointing seasons followed at Honda, before last year's triumphant return to Ducati.