Former world champion David Philippaerts is to make a racing return to the MXGP championship this year, starting at Tuetschenthal in Germany on October 3. The Italian, MX1 world champion in 2008, quit GPs in 2016 but still contests some Italian races.

This year the 37-year-old is team coach at Ghidinelli Racing but as its riders Tim Edberg, Oriol Oliver and Pietro Razzini have left, the team has decided to draft in Philippaerts for selected MXGP races.