British teenager Bradley Smith will bid for the 2009 125cc World Championship on an Aspar Aprilia after agreeing a deal with the Spanish team.
Smith, who previously raced for Repsol Honda before moving to Polaris World Aprilia for this season, will be joined by Spaniard Julian Simon who moves from the Repsol KTM 250cc team.
Smith decided to join the outfit run by Jorge Martinez after he was told his current team would not have the funding to race in 2009.
The Oxfordshire rider told Motor Cycle News: "The Aspar team is very good with a lot of experience and they have won numerous World Championships and numerous races.
"They have that experience of winning and maybe that's what I need to put in my riding and move on to the next level and win races."
Martinez added: "I am delighted to have signed these two riders for the team, because once again we are shaping a team that can compete for the title in 125cc.
"Both Julian Simon, two years ago, and Bradley Smith last year, were candidates for the team, and I am satisfied to have picked them up for 2009 and 2010.
"Julian is a clean rider with a great 2008 behind him, and I am convinced that a factory bike can put him in the fight for the World Championship.
"Bradley has shown that, despite his age, that he could not have adapted better to the RSA (Aprilia). He has been fast all year, and now has the maturity to be world champion."
Sporting Life / Eurosport
Source:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com