Tito Rabat seals Avintia Ducati 2018 MotoGP move

Rabat, 28, will ride a Ducati Desmosedici GP17 for Avintia next year, making the switch after two years aboard a Marc VDS Honda.

The 2014 Moto2 champion was 21st overall in his rookie campaign last year, and currently sits 18th in the 2017 standings.

"I think we have done a good job in two years with Honda, but I've reached a barrier that is hard to break through and that's why I think that it is time to change," said Rabat.

"Now I have a new opportunity to demonstrate that I can be fast and competitive in MotoGP.

"I'll be racing in a team that I know since my childhood and with a bike that I think will suit my size and my style to perfection."

Rabat spent much of his junior career with Raul Romero's Avintia team under its previous Blusens and BQR titles, including stints in Spanish domestic racing, the 125cc world championship and his rookie Moto2 season in 2011 (pictured below).

"Tito is like a son for me," team boss Romero said.

"He rode his first race for me in the Spanish championship and he made his debut in the world championship with my team.

"During his career, he raced in several teams, but always comes back home.

"I'm convinced that this will be the pinnacle in his career and that we'll achieve great results together with Ducati.

"Tito is a hard worker and this was his secret to become Moto2 world champion.

"Next season he will ride a Desmosedici GP17, a bike that is on top of the classification with [Andrea] Dovizioso and that has been extremely competitive this year."

Moto2 rider Xavier Simeon is understood to be favourite to join Rabat at Avintia in 2018, although incumbent pair Loris Baz and Hector Barbera both remain in with a chance of staying.

The second Avintia ride is now the last vacancy on the 2018 MotoGP grid.

Rabat's current employer Marc VDS has signed Franco Morbidelli and Tom Luthi - the current Moto2 title rivals - for its MotoGP line-up next year.

2018 MotoGP line-up so far

Yamaha: Maverick Vinales, Valentino Rossi
Tech3 Yamaha: Johann Zarco, Jonas Folger
Honda: Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa
LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow, Takaaki Nakagami
Marc VDS Honda: Franco Morbidelli, Tom Luthi
Ducati: Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo
Pramac Ducati: Danilo Petrucci, Jack Miller
Aspar Ducati: Alvaro Bautista, Karel Abraham
Avintia Ducati: Tito Rabat, tba
Aprilia: Aleix Espargaro, Scott Redding
Suzuki: Andrea Iannone, Alex Rins
KTM: Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith