Alvaro Bautista leaves Suzuki MotoGP team

Alvaro Bautista has split from the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team.

Bautista joined Suzuki for the start of the 2010 season and was the team's sole rider in 2011.

During his two seasons in MotoGP he has recorded five top-six finishes, but been limited to 13th in the standings (both years) due to injuries.

The former 125cc world champion is expected to sign for Honda Gresini - and make his RCV debut in testing at Valencia today (Wednesday).

"I am very sad to be leaving Suzuki after the two great years that I have had here," said Bautista.

"It has been a great team to work in and I have learnt a lot of things from everyone in the team. It was a fantastic experience working with an English/Japanese team and we have become like a big family, except we have never had any arguments and no-one falls out with each other!

"I want to thank everybody personally for the last two years, sometimes it has been difficult, but nobody ever gave up and I felt like I always had their full support and commitment.

"I don't feel like I am leaving a team, but a group of friends that I hope I will know for a long time. I want to say a special thank-you to Tom, Paul, Ken san and Sahara san, and wish them and the rest of the team all the best for the future."

Suzuki is still to confirm if it will be in MotoGP next year. Randy de Puniet rode Bautista's 800cc bike on Tuesday.