Fabrizio to race Byrne's Aprilia.

This Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix will see WCM regular Michel Fabrizio line-up in MS Aprilia colours after being selected to replace the injured Shane Byrne for the Estoril event.

Byrne (middle pic) will miss the race as a result of wrist injuries sustained in a spectacular free practice highside last time out at Brno.

As a result, Fabrizio and 250cc frontrunner Ant West joined Jeremy McWilliams at a recent Mugello test, and it has now been revealed that the 19-year-old MotoGP rookie - who has been particularly impressive in the wet - will get his big chance to impress the factory teams as he switches from the underfunded Dunlop shod Harris WCM to a Michelin supported RS Cube.

Fabrizio's best finish to date is a head-turning 10th, which he claimed in only his second MotoGP race; the wet Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

The Italian's move, expected to be for one race only, means that WCM's line-up will consist of Chris Burns - set to return after missing the Brno race with a damaged wrist - and 23-year-old countryman James Ellison (lower pic), who made his MotoGP debut when he stood in for Burns at the Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, Byrne hopes to be back on his RS Cube at the Japanese Grand Prix on September 19.

"I hope that the wrist will be OK to race at Motegi in a couple of weeks time," he confirmed. "My wrist is still in plaster but I hope to get the cast off and start some laser treatment later this week. I was pretty beaten up after the crash and have spent a some time in Spain resting-up."

First qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix takes place this Friday.