Eugene Laverty will ride for Aspar team in 2015 MotoGP series

Eugene Laverty has earned 13 race wins in the World Superbike Championship

Eugene Laverty will ride for the Aspar team in next year's MotoGP series following his decision to quit the Crescent Suzuki World Superbike outfit.

Northern Irishman Laverty, 28, was runner-up in last year's World Superbike series and has earned 13 race wins in that championship.

Team owner Jorge Martinez said that Aspar tried to sign Laverty last year.

Laverty's brother Michael has raced for the PBM MotoGP team over the last two years but has yet to sign a 2015 deal.

"Eugene is a rider we have been interested in for a long time," said Martinez.

Martinez, himself a former 125cc world champion, added that Laverty is a rider with "great potential".

"He has produced some incredible races in supersport and superbikes, and he has a lot of wins on his record with a lot of different manufacturers, which says a lot about his capacity to adapt.

"He is ready to make the step to MotoGP.

"Next year we will have a new, more competitive Honda and I have a lot of hope invested in our MotoGP project.

"I am sure we will achieve great results together."

Laverty won this season's opening race in Australia with Crescent Suzuki but has struggled since and lies seventh in the series with two rounds remaining.