Marco Melandri has split with the Barni Ducati WorldSBK team and will be replaced with Italian youngster Samuele Cavalieri.

Melandri, who replaced the injured Leon Camier, has under-performed on the factory-supported Paniglae V4R, saying the way he rides doesn’t not suit the bike.

“It was an hard choice, but I had to listen to my physique. I was back with great enthusiasm, but this died out race after race when I realized that my characteristics are different from this bike,” said Melandri.

“Recovering ground during the race weekends is really hard. My idea was to come back to have fun and good races, but, despite the great job made by the team, I have never found the right feeling with the bike.

“In these conditions there were no reasons to go on, I talked about it with open heart with “Barni” and give space to a young man who has grit and hunger is the right choice.

“Regrets? Not at all. If I had not had this experience I would have wondered how it would have gone, now I had the answers, unfortunately they were not what I expected.

“Anyway, I would like to thank the whole team for the commitment, for me It’s time to look ahead on a way that I had already decided to take. I wish the Barni Racing Team a lot of good luck for the future.”

Cavalieri currently rides for Barni in the Italian Superbike series and has already made his WorldSBK debut at in Misano 2019 with 13th in Race 1 and Race 2 on a Ducati.

“I am very happy with this opportunity and first of all I want to thank Barni and his team. My goal is to gain experience, I will be among great riders and I will have to learn from everyone.

“Work with method is the key point. I’ve never be on the saddle of this bike and I want to take one step at a time, without setting goals.

“I also want to thank all the people who have accompanied me so far, my family and my sponsors, I hope I can give them the satisfaction they deserve.”