Scott Redding seals Gresini Honda MotoGP seat for 2014

Scott Redding will graduate into MotoGP next year after signing a two-year deal with Honda's satellite Gresini squad

The Briton, who currently leads this year's Moto2 championship from Tech 3 Yamaha-bound Pol Espargaro, will race Honda's new production bike in 2013.

He will partner current Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista, with the outfit duly expanding back to two bikes.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of MotoGP next season," Redding said.

"I'll be racing alongside the best riders in the world, aboard the brand-new Honda production racer, so I know already how steep a learning curve it's going to be.

"This was why it was so important to me that I made this step with an experienced team, and there are few more experienced in the MotoGP paddock than Gresini.

"My focus for now is on winning the Moto2 world championship for Marc van der Straten, without whose support over the past four years I wouldn't even have been given this opportunity to move up to the premier class."

GRESINI KEEN TO DEVELOP REDDING

Fausto Gresini, eponymous team boss, added: "I'm delighted to be able to work with a young talent like Scott Redding.

"We have signed a two-year contract together, with the clear aim of building an ambitious project that should see him develop and be taken to the pinnacle of MotoGP.

"Scott has already shown that he has a lot of quality, so we are proud to welcome him into our team.

"We cannot wait to begin working with him; his riding style is great to watch, as is his approach to racing."

Gresini was the only non-factory team to claim a pole position during the 2012 season - courtesy of Alvaro Bautista at Silverstone - and also took two poles in 2011 courtesy of the late Marco Simoncelli.

Redding meanwhile has won twice and claimed six podiums in this year's Moto2 championship, which he currently leads by 21 points.