Eugene Laverty is set to ride for the Fixi Crescent Suzuki World Superbike team in 2014, with an option to move into the MotoGP class on a Suzuki the following year.

The deal is expected to be confirmed this week, with Laverty saying that it is the "strongest option" on the table.

The move would see Laverty link up with new British Superbike champion Alex Lowes in the Paul Denning-run outfit.

The 27-year-old has been the subject of interest from two MotoGP teams.

Pramac Ducati were understood to want Laverty to ride their production bike in MotoGP next year, while the Monaco-based man was also on the radar of the Spanish-based Aspar team, which dominated the CRT class with Aleix Esparago on Aprilia machinery.

There was also speculation that Laverty's most recent employers, the Aprilia World Superbike squad, would make a last-ditch bid to run him in their team, alongside Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli.

Both the Alstare and Althea-run Aprilia squads were linked with the Toomebridge rider, who hopes to finalise terms with Fixi Suzuki in the next few days.

Laverty finished second in this year's World Superbike championship, 28 points behind winner Tom Sykes.



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