Bradley Smith signs for Aspar Aprilia

British teenager Bradley Smith will ride for the Aspar Aprilia squad in the 2009 125GP world championship.

As was first reported by MCN, the 17-year-old has clinched a deal with Spaniard Jorge Martinez after he was told his Polaris World Aprilia squad didn’t have the funding to continue in 2009.

Smith, who had a disastrous Australian GP today when he crashed on the first and last lap, told MCN: “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 onto the next level and win races.”

Smith will be joined by current Repsol KTM 250 rider Julian Simon.

Team boss Jorge Martinez said: “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 Simón, 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. He has been fast all year, and now has the maturity to be World Champion.”