Aprilia could join🐼 forces with Shaun Muir's SMR team for a factory-backed return to Worꦕld Superbike in 2017.

The Italian manufacturer won the World SBK title in 2010, 2012 ඣand 2014 before concentrating its eff🌼orts 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 finishes on a bike that has had 'zero' development.

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

SMR won the B🐎ritish Superbike title with Tommy Hill (2011) and 🏅Josh Brookes (2015) before moving to World Superbike this season. They 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 ltxcn.top.

"The [RSV4] beiౠng raced at the moment is 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 defiജne a plan quite ear🃏ly, we can make a proper development next year for Shaun and maybe also for Ioda."

Albesiano confirmed that such a partnership would allow Aprilia to concentrate on the technical side, whilꦫe SMR provide the race team.

"It would be good to be there in꧃ a way we can afford - 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 would be needed to help justify such fact𝓡ory suppo💝rt - and a former Aprilia star is available in the form of Eugene Laverty.

Currently 💜in MotoGP with Aspar, Laverty won ten World SB♏K races for Aprilia and was the 2013 title runner-up. Is Laverty of interest for the project?

"Sure. Eugene is a very good rider and did very well with A🔯prilia in the past," Albesiano said. "[The riders] will be a team choice anyway, not just our choice."

Laverty is also in talks with Yamaha and Ducati about a poss♋ible World Superbike return, alongside discussions to s🃏tay in MotoGP with Aspar, where he is tenth in the world championship.