Twenty-five year-old Irishman Eugene Laverty, the revelation of the season who finished fourth overall in his debut year in World Superbike, will race in the 2012 championship as part of Aprilia's internal factory team alongside five-times world champion Max Biaggi.

Laverty, born in Toomebridge on June 3rd 1986, has signed a contract with the Italian Aprilia Racing team for the next two seasons.

Laverty immediately demonstrated an extraordinary feeling with his new Aprilia RSV4 machine by setting the quickest time in the one-day test session at Portimao on Tuesday October 18th, which marked the start of preparations for the 2012 season.