First look at MV Agusta Moto2 machine

The MV Agusta name will return to grand prix next season as part of a collaboration with Forward Racing in the Moto2 category.

Present at the very start of the world championship, the legendary Italian brand claimed 38 riders' and 37 manufacturers' titles from 1952 to 1974 with riders such as John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read and Giacomo Agostini.

While the return to grand prix will be in the Triumph-powered Moto2 class, and with Forward's current chassis partner Suter understood to be helping with design work behind the scenes, the brand is delighted to be back.

"MV Agusta is the most successful brand in history of motorcycling" said Giovanni Castiglioni, President of MV Agusta.

"The return of MV Agusta to the Grand Prix is a great honour for me.

"The Moto2 World Championship is very competitive and in order to be successful we need to apply the best of our technology and experience in racing motorcycle development."

Forward Racing took a podium on its grand prix debut in the inaugural 2010 Moto2 race, winning in just its fifth race appearance at Silverstone. The team later expanded to MotoGP and won the Open class in 2014 with Aleix Espargaro, but have concentrated solely on Moto2 since 2016.

"The dream of bringing MV Agusta back to the World Championship was born with Claudio Castiglioni, to whom I have always been linked by deep esteem and friendship, and the dream came true with his son Giovanni," said Giovanni Cuzari, Forward Racing CEO.

"I find it difficult to express with words what this means, to be actively part of a common project with both MV Agusta and CRC [Castiglioni Research Centre], the two Italian excellences that created the most beautiful motorcycles in history.

"I worked many years for this to happen, and now I feel proud to announce that MV Agusta will race in the Moto2 World Championship with Forward Racing Team.

"I am also aware of the great responsibility involved in having such a prestigious brand on the hulls of our motorbikes. Our team, along with MV Agusta and CRC, will strive to achieve, in the shortest possible time, what all the fans, and we first, expect and dream."

The first 2019 MV Agusta prototype is expected to make its track debut in July.