Pramac Racing has confirmed that Spain's Aleix Espargaró will be riding for the team full-time next year. The 20-year-old Catalan joined the outfit to replace Mika Kallio earlier in the season whilst the Finn, in-turn, stood in for Casey Stoner.
With the Ducati satellite team having first employed the services of Espargaró at late notice this season, the team has been impressed the performances of the rider, who will line-up alongside Kallio in 2010.
"Our collaboration with Ducati Corse became stronger through the years and from this season we have begun the project to become a sort of junior team for growing and young talented riders," Pramac Racing Team Principal Paolo Campinoti commented.
"This year we have already obtained good results thanks to Mika Kallio performances and this is why the Finnish rider will remain with us next season. This is and will be our mentality; in fact, from this point it has begun the idea to give the possibility to Aleix to ride for us in 2010.
"At Indianapolis he demonstrated how to be competitive since the first laps in both track conditions, dry and wet, and at Misano confirmed his good feeling with this category. We really count on him; his attitude and devotion to this sport give us a lot of trust. He is a determined rider and we are sure that he will give us a lot of satisfactions.
"I take this occasion to thanks Niccolò Canepa. He is a strong guy and we wish him a happy future on and off track."
"Life can change so quickly in just a few months!," Espargaró, of Granollers on the outskirts of Barcelona, added. "At the beginning of this year I had to stay home as my 250cc team retired from the championship and now I have the opportunity to ride with the fastest riders in the world in MotoGP category.
"I have to thank Pramac Racing Team, Paolo Campinoti and Ducati for this fantastic opportunity they are giving me."
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