Aspar has confirmed a switch from Honda to Ducati machinery for MotoGP 2016, and that Eugene Laverty will remain with the team.

The Spanish squad previously ran Ducati machinery when it first stepped up to the premier-class, in 2010 and 2011, before moving to Aprilia for 2012 and 2013.

Aspar has run Open class Hondas for the past two seasons, but will return to Desmosedicis for the start of the Michelin tyre and single ECU era.

Having already announced that Yonny Hernandez will join the team, the Colombian familiar with Ducati from two seasons at Pramac, tucked away in today's announcement was confirmation that rookie Laverty will continue with Aspar for a second year.

Laverty's present team-mate Nicky Hayden is moving to World Superbike.

"Our first two years in MotoGP, 2010 and 2011, were quite positive alongside Ducati. That was before the arrival of the CRT bikes, where we enjoyed lots of success," said team boss Jorge Martinez 'Aspar'.

"Throughout our time so far in MotoGP we have worked with Ducati, Aprilia and Honda. Now we return to Ducati, and without a doubt I am expecting we will have competitive bikes and great riders capable of scoring the kinds of results we deserve, which is inside the top ten.

"Ducati have made big changes in recent times, in particular in their racing department in the hands of Gigi Dall'Igna. He's someone we have had an excellent relationship with for 20 years now. I have complete faith in his abilities, and that is definitely one of the reasons we have decided to work with Ducati once more in the future."

Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall'Igna added: "Thanks to the agreement with the Aspar Team there will be eight riders on Ducati Desmosedici bikes in the Championship next year, and this shows that the increased competitiveness of our bikes is now a reality recognized in the MotoGP paddock."