Ducati retains Melandri for 2018 WSBK season

Melandri, 35, returned to WSBK this year with Ducati, having missed the past two years after an ill-fated stint at Aprilia's new MotoGP project in 2015 and a sabbatical a year later.

The Italian was a WSBK frontrunner between 2011 and 2014, having been the runner-up in his first year with Yamaha before becoming a multiple race winner with BMW and Aprilia.

His return to the series this year has seen him collect seven podiums and one victory at Misano in the first eight rounds. This puts him fourth in the standings, behind the Kawasaki duo of Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, as well as his teammate Davies.

“I’m really happy for the opportunity to prolong this professional collaboration, which represented a new beginning in my career as a rider,” said Melandri.

“Together with Ducati and Aruba.it, we enjoyed some really memorable moments, while in other occasions I think my long break from racing affected our performance, so I’m sure there’s still plenty of room to improve.

“To this end, continuing with the same team and the same bike represents the best possible opportunity to achieve higher goals.

“I’m ready to tackle a new season with more experience and confidence, and it’s a challenge that makes me incredibly happy.

“First of all, however, we need to finish the current championship as strongly as possible. With five rounds to go, we’ll always give our 100 percent and assess our performance in the end.”

Melandri will once again race alongside Davies, who has a contract until the end of the 2018 season.

Ducati joins fellow WSBK powerhouse team Kawasaki in deciding not to change its line-up for next year.