Repsol Honda exile Andrea Dovizioso has reportedly put pen to paper with Herve Poncharal's Tech3 MotoGP team and will ride alongside Cal Crutchlow for the 2012 season in a one-year deal.

The Italian had the option of staying with Honda but appears to have stuck two fingers up to HRC after they favoured Marco Simoncelli, giving him the remaining RC213V, and gone with the satellite Yamaha team.

Dovizioso's deal means Eugene Laverty will now have to look elsewhere for a ride next season which will more than likely see him go to the BMW Italia team in World Superbikes.