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Ducati legend Troy Bayliss is to return the series that made him famous after announcing that 2006 will see him race for the Ducati Xerox World Superbike team.

The 36 year-old Aussie will join Italian rookie Lorenzo Lanzi who has signed to the works-team full time after he clocked up two impressive wins at the end of this season.

Bayliss' first stint in Superbikes started five years ago when he replaced the injured Ducati rider Carl Foggarty.

Doing enough in 2000 to land a permanent place on the team Bayliss then marked his first full season in Superbikes by winning the title for the Italian giants.

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After finishing second to Honda rider Colin Edwards in 2002 Bayliss switched to MotoGP where he rode with the Ducati team for two years.

He is now delighted to be moving back to Superbikes. "I'm really looking forward to hopping back on a Ducati Superbike," explained Bayliss.

"Even though the bike has changed quite a lot, the engine is still very similar and has been much improved since I've been away so it's a built-in package already waiting there for me. I have a lot of good memories from the past and I aim to continue having more of them.

"The biggest thing is that it feels like I'm coming home."

With wily old-pro Bayliss and the explosive exuberance of 23 year-old Lanzi, expect 2006 to be an exciting year for Ducati Corse.