Eugene Laverty lands Aspar Honda deal?

Eugene Laverty is understood to have clinched a MotoGP move for 2015 with the high profile Aspar Honda squad.

MCN sources understand Laverty has agreed a deal to ride a production RCV1000R next season after Scott Redding ruled himself out of a possible deal to partner Nicky Hayden in 2015.

Redding has signed a dream deal to ride a factory RC213V in the Marc VDS Racing squad he raced for in Moto2 between 2010 and 2013.

Having been informed that Redding was no longer a realistic target, Aspar boss Jorge Martinez is understood to have penned a deal with Irishman Laverty in Misano last weekend.

Laverty, who currently races for the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki squad in World Superbikes, has made it clear he intended to switch to MotoGP next season and has been locked in talks with Aspar, Pramac Ducati and Forward Yamaha.

Laverty has attended the last three MotoGP races to try and nail down a deal. But his preference has always been to jump on a production RCV1000R machine, which will get a major engine upgrade for 2015, including pneumatic valve technology.

Speaking to MCN during the recent British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Laverty said: “I had a really good conversation with Aspar and that is my preferred choice. I didn’t know them until Brno last year and we sat down with Gigi (Dall’Igna) when the plan was to go with them at Aprilia. And then that all fell apart when Aspar decided to go with Honda. But because we had some good chats and Aspar were really interested in me, they are still keen.”