Alvaro Bautista is sticking with Aspar Team Ducati for the 2018 MotoGP world championship, aft๊er signing a new oneꦯ-year deal.

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

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

The move ends interest from Aprilia ൲to lure back the Span🐼ish rider and - with the likes of Cal Crutchlow, Danilo Petrucci and now Bautista🍷 all staying put - increases Sam Lowes' chances of remaining on the RS-GP.

Aspar have told mahbx.com that Bautista will ride a GP17 Desmosedici next season, his to-be-confirmed team-mate get🃏ting a GP16.

"I am ha💫ppy 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 to grow. We are having a strong season, I have a ꦯgood 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."

Jorg♑e Martinez, Aspar Team general manager, believes Bautista is well plaꦜced to build on his success so far.

"It is good news for the Pull&Bear Aspar Team that we have reached this agreement with ?l🦹varo Bautista," Martinez said. "We believe in him and we are enjoying a very strong season. W꧟e 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♑, a💧nd that next season holds even more still."

Bautista sits 11th in the MotoGP riders' championship at the midway s𒀰tage of the season.

Karel Abraham currently rides alonജgside Bautistꦦa 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! -- Al෴varo Bautista Arce (@19Bautista)