Dovizioso moves to MotoGP in merged team

The Italian rider finished second in the 250cc championship to Jorge Lorenzo this season, and his team will move up to MotoGP with him in a combined effort with the JiR team that ran Shinya Nakano this year.

"Being part of the MotoGP class is a dream come true," said the 21-year-old. "Now I feel ready to jump into this category following my experience in the quarter-litre class, a category experiencing an increased level of competition compared to the past.

"I am very happy to run in the MotoGP alongside Honda and those people who have grown with me as a rider."

The partnership between the two teams follows the end of JiR's relationship with main sponsor Konica Minolta, which had backed the squad for the past three years.

Team director Gianluca Montiron said: "A global vision of racing is fundamental for the future. Lining up a talented Italian rider such as Andrea Dovizioso - young, fast, and motivated - is a great satisfaction."

The team will continue to run a Honda bike as they did this year, and they will also be represented in the 250cc class with Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi.

Cirano Mularoni of Team Scot, who will become Team Manager for the new squad, said: "It is a great pleasure for us to announce such an agreement, with MotoGP being our highest target ever.

"Our gratification is even bigger since we are introducing into the premier class Andrea Dovizioso, a talented young rider that we have followed and grown with in the 125cc and 250cc categories.

"We will be committed to the lower classes as well since they represent a key step for the next generation or rising stars."

The deal for 2008 means that Dovizioso will effectively remain with the same team for a seventh consecutive season.