After a 42-year absence, MV Agusta is returning to grand prix racing next season, as a manufacturer in the Moto2 class.

The Italian factory - which has joined forces with Forward Racing for the new project - will use a steel trellis frame with aluminium side plates, an aluminium swingarm and Ohlins suspension to house the new-for-2019 765cc Triumph Moto2 engine.

"I am really proud to see the dream to re-join the Motorcycling World Championship come true," said MV Agusta president Giovanni Castiglioni.

MV Agusta Moto2 bike Video of MV Agusta Moto2 bike CrashTV: Video Thumbnail:

"I would like to thank all our engineers, technicians and designers, plus the staff of the Forward Racing Team for having carried out this project in such a short amount of time.

"I want to express my gratitude to Giovanni Cuzari, as he believed in us and pushed us to do our best. Of course there is still a lot of work ahead of us, but step by step we will improve our competitiveness.”

Forward team owner Giovanni Cuzari added: “I have been chasing this dream since Claudio [Castiglioni’s] era. Many times I have insisted with MV Agusta for a return in MotoGP, and, when Giovanni has taken the place of his father, I have often encouraged him to believe in such an ambitious project.

"Finally he did it, and today, 42 years later, we will take the first steps with the Moto2 MV Agusta prototype. I am very emotional but aware that this is only a first outing, and that there is a huge amount of work ahead of us.

"I got to know closely the Castiglioni Research Centre, the true heart of MV Agusta,

and now I’m convinced that we have everything to accomplish a great project: the passion and professionalism of the group guided by Paolo Bianchi, together with my fantastic team, which I thank individually, is definitely the right mix to be able to aim for the best.

"Today’s is a starting point to get to bring this brand back really high. A special thanks goes to all those who supported and support this project, now the attention goes to the track.”

Project leader Brian Gillen said that the change from (600cc) Honda to Triumph engines and introduction of a new Magneti-Marelli ECU meant 2019 was the 'perfect' time to enter Moto2, which has seen race wins for Kalex, KTM and Speed Up so far this season.

“It’s a few years now that we are thinking about a return to the Motorcycling World Championship and with the modification of the regulations of the Moto2 category for 2019 it’s the perfect opportunity to express our technical know-how, that we developed during the last six years in which we raced in Superbike and Supersport," Gillen said.

"The Moto2 project is an ambitious one and we are involving our R&D resources and all our racing experience in order to develop a completely new bike, which differs from all the others and which reflects the values of MV Agusta.”

Experienced Moto2 competitor Suter, Forward's current chassis supplier, is also rumoured to be assisting MV Agusta with the new project.

Forward Racing and MV Agusta are yet to confirm their 2019 riders. The current line-up of Stefano Manzi and Eric Granado have finished in the points only once so far this year, with a tenth place for Manzi at Le Mans.