WorldSBK star and former Moto2 rider Jordi Torres will stand-in for fellow Spaniard Tito Rabat in the Avintia Ducati MotoGP team at Motorland Aragon next weekend.

It will be Torres’ debut in the blue riband class and he is a much more suitable candidate than Christopher Ponsson, who was the team’s replacement last time out at Misano.

“Right now I am excited but also terrified, but it is always a challenge to be able to try a MotoGP bike for the first time. It will be a unique experience that one day I will be able to tell my grandchildren. Now seriously, I really want to try the bike and see how I evolve,” said Torres.

“I know that the championship has a very high level and in a race weekend it is very difficult to assimilate all the things you need to be fast, but I will try to learn as much as possible and take advantage of my experience. I think it’s something positive, I know the team very well and I will try to put everything, and we will see what comes out during the weekend.

“It’s more difficult than the people think, but I’m going with a positive attitude and looking forward to get the best out of this opportunity. I also want to thank my manager for his work and MV Agusta for giving me permission to be in Aragon.

“At the moment it is one race, but it could be two. Above all I want to wish Tito a speedy recovery because he does not deserve that bad accident, but I know he will come back quickly, because he is a fighter.”