Journalists and fans alike were expecting an early announcement this weekend about Alvaro’s future and it looked much like the Suzuki confirmation was inevitable.
However, at the moment it seems like we all have to wait a little longer for an official statement on Alvaro’s move to MotoGP.

Jorge Martinez has announced before the weekend that he would like to confirm his rider for the Aspar Ducati either on Thursday or on Friday morning. Since it’s now already past that, it might be a sign for the decision not being as secure at the moment as many journalists make them out to be. Alvaro’s management did not comment on the matter and denied that any signings can already be announced.

Asked about it on Thursday, Alvaro himself gave the following statement:

“The same people who are saying that already it is all done, extend the decision in the end. There is no foundation on which these reports are based; things are like in the previous race and everything that has been said is just assumptions. I have thought about it these days, because it is a very important decision in my career and it is necessary to have it very clear. I have circled my decision and we are close, but at the moment I am going to focus on the race, it is Thursday and this is what matters now. Afterwards there could be some news, but after, not before or during. At the moment it is put on hold. I have thought well about the offers we have and more or less we have found a way. When we finish the weekend we will take this subject up again and we will see if we can decide”

A big tip-off however might already come before that. It is strongly rumoured that Hector Barbera has already signed a one-year contract with the new Aspar Ducati team and there might still be an announcement on that later today. If this proves to be true, then this would almost equal a confirmation for Alvaro to sign with Suzuki.

We will keep you updated.

Update: Hector Barbera today commented on the matter, saying that nothing is fixed yet and that he wants to focus on the race this weekend. So it seems like we’ll definitely have to wait until after the race on Sunday.

MotoGPMatters reports on the question of whether Alvaro will ride with Aspar in MotoGP next season as coming to a head this weekend at Brno, citing stories from the likes of Marca and GPOne that suggest Bati signed a pre-contract of some kind with Suzuki in the middle of 2008, and that a ride on the vacant Ducati seat in Aspar’s new MotoGP team is by no means a certainty.

Says David Emmett:
Aspar has a problem. Alvaro Bautista has already signed a pre-contract with Suzuki last summer, according to the reports, and is not inclined to pay the penalty which breaking that commitment would involve. As a result, Bautista is increasingly leaning towards finalizing a deal with Suzuki to ride for the Rizla squad for 2010. His choice is also influenced by the fact that he will be able to go straight to a factory team, Suzuki having received a dispensation from the rookie rule which forces new entrants to sign with satellite squads.
Up against this, Aspar can offer a contract directly with Ducati, but riding in the Aspar team. Bautista would be assured of strong support from Ducati Corse, and the option of moving up to the factory squad should his results be good enough. Of course, with so many riders struggling to tame the Desmosedici, Bautista may not want to risk that option, and the Spaniard has in the past flat out refused to ride the Ducati.

The various reports suggest that there will be emergency meetings in the Brno paddock with Aspar and Alvaro’s management to try and nail the matter – and that whatever the outcome, Jorge Martinez will name his rider this weeked, probably on Thursday or Friday.

Original source: MotoGPMatters

Jorge Martínez “Aspar” will finally move his World Championship project up to MotoGP in 2010, courtesy of a deal with Ducati confirmed on Saturday at Donington Park. After three years of negotiating with various factories, an agreement has been struck for an ambitious stay in the premier class.

“It seems that after three years we are finally able to achieve our dream of presenting a MotoGP project. It’s been three years of fighting and looking for the best option and, after sounding out various factories, we have finally reached an agreement with Ducati,” declared Aspar at the British track. “I hope that this will be a fruitful arrangement that will continue in the long term. In theory we will have one rider in 2010, with the idea being to expand to two in 2011.”

The Aspar Team will be present in all three categories of the World Championship, with the MotoGP team joining 125cc and Moto2 squads.

“Our goal is primarily to grow strong in MotoGP from a technical viewpoint. We will continue with the 125cc team and compete in the Moto2 class, so we feel that this is a big step for the whole team. Today the big news is that we are moving up to MotoGP with Ducati, so the second thing that we have to do is confirm a rider. We hope to be able to do this by the time we get to Brno,” added the former three-time lower cylinder category World Champion, who was clear on his preferred choice for the available spot.

”It would be great to convince Álvaro Bautista to come up with us and he is our first option for the MotoGP team. He has been with us for a long time, winning a 125cc World Championship and finishing second in 250cc, so it would be great for him to continue with us,” he stated, referring to the rider currently involved in the 250cc title fight.

Source: motogp.com