MotoGP: Nicky Hayden makes Aspar Honda switch

Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has signed a two-year deal to ride for the Aspar team from next season.

Hayden, 32, won the 2006 title for Repsol Honda and has been with the factory Ducati team since 2009.

He lost his seat at Ducati earlier this year when Briton Cal Crutchlow signed a two-year deal with the Italian factory.

Hayden will be joined on Honda machinery at Aspar by a second, as yet unnamed, rider for 2014 and 2015.

The Aspar team have been powered by Aprilia engines for the past two years but will move to Honda with Hayden from next year.

Team boss Jorge Martinez said: "We are taking a huge step forward in terms of quality, prestige and image.

"We have grown a lot in a short space of time and we are all very excited about this new project."