Julian Simon will remain with the Repsol Motorsport squad for next season's 250cc world championship as the team switch from Honda to KTM machinery.

The move, which will see the 20-year-old Spaniard receive the same level of factory backing as works riders Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama, sees him return to the fold of the Austrian manufacturer with whom he spent two years in 125s and who ran him to his only win in the class at the 2005 British Grand Prix.

Simon finished ninth in his rookie season of 250s this year, but established himself as an expert qualifier, making the front row four times in his first eight races and only missing out on the top ten once all season.

The identity of his team-mate is unknown for the moment, but it will certainly not be his 2007 partner Shuhei Aoyama, who was backed by Honda and now looks likely to return

But while their 250cc squad is yet to be completed, the 125cc line-up has been finalised.

Spanish teenager Esteve Rabat, who was Bradley Smith's team-mate, and became the first Honda rider to finish on the podium this year in China, will remain as the team is also switched over to KTMs.

But, with British star Smith off to Polaris World Aprilia, his partner will be another Spaniard, Marc Marquez, who will only become legal to race in the world championship after his 15th birthday, which comes around before the start of the season.

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport