Alvaro Bautista is sticking with Aspa🧸r Team Ducati for the 2018 MotoGP world championship, after signing a new one-year deal.

The Spanish rider, who claimed the 2006 125cc world title with Aspar, ဣreturned to the team this season after two indifferent years on the fact🐈ory Aprilia.

Having claimed four top-seven finishes in the opening nine roun𓆏ds of 2017, including an impressive fourth place in Argentina, Bautiღsta has been locked down by Aspar for the 2018 campaign.

The move ends interest from Aprilia to lure back the🦂♛ Spanish rider and - with the likes of Cal Crutchlow, Danilo Petrucci and now Bauti🃏sta all stayingꦜ put - increases Sam Lowes' chances of remaining on the RS-GP.

Aspar have told ltxcn.top that Bautista will ride a GP17 Desmosedici next ꩵseason, his to-be-confirmed team-mate getting a GP16.

"I am happy to be spending another season as part of the Pull&Bear Aspar Team family," Bautista said. "It is a union that can help both the team and myself to𒆙 grow. We are having a strong season, I have a good relationship with the team and I feel very comfortable on the Ducati and with the support from the factory. I think we can continue to improve and achieve good results."

Jorge Martinez, Aspar Team general manager, believes Bautista is well placed to bꦇuild on his success so far.

"It is good news for the Pull&Bear Aspar Team that we have reached this agreement with ?lvaro Ba🔜utಌista," Martinez said. "We believe in him and we are enjoying a very strong season. We also have a lot of faith in Ducati, we get great support from the factory and through extending this relationship, together we can improve even more.

"I hope this year still holds many more high points like the ones we have enjoyed already, ♒and that next season holds even more stil🌠l."

Bautistaꦍ 🐻sits 11th in the MotoGP riders' championship at the midway stage of the season.

Karel Abraham currently rides alongside B𝕴autista on a GP15 machine. The Czech rider is yet to confirm his 2018 plans.

Happy to annuncie i'll race again the for 2018!
Contento de anunciar que 🏅correr? con d nuevo en 2018! -- Alvaro Bautista Arce (@19Bautista)