Former Aspar Ducati rider Hector Barbera has switched to the Pramac Ducati team for the 2012 MotoGP season but will once again find himself in a one-rider team after Pramac decided to downsize.

This year, the squad ran Loris Capirossi and Randy De Puniet but the Italian has now retired and the Frenchman finds himself out in the cold after they only finished in the top ten seven times between them. Aspar, meanwhile, couldn't find the money to lease a GP12 for next season, so will field a CRT bike.

“This will be my third year riding a Ducati and I want to thank the Pramac Racing Team and Paolo Campinoti who have given me this opportunity. In the last two seasons I have not conquered the results I wanted and I hope that now, after the experience I gained, I can get better results," said Barbera.

"Both I and Pramac Racing have high goals. I am coming from one of the hardest moments of my career and I want a change. Ducati is working hard, this was a difficult year but I am sure that with the tests tomorrow and Wednesday and especially with the winter break, where they will have time to work, they will be able to give us a very competitive bike at the beginning of next season.”