Yamaha have confirmed that Ben Spies will be joining the Tech 3 team to race in the FIM MotoGP World Championship in 2010.

Spies, 25, has won 12 of the 24 races so far, and is just three points behind leader Noriyuki Haga going into this weekend's round at Magny-Cours and earlier this summer it was announced that he would be joining Yamaha in MotoGP in 2011 - but he has decided to move a year earlier and will form an all-American team at Tech 3 alongside Colin Edwards, meaning James Toseland will miss out.

Spies said: "I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me, they have treated me like royalty."

He added: "Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011; I did sign for Superbikes for 2010 but I began thinking of the competition and my age and waiting until 2011.

"This was not an easy decision, the Yamaha World Superbike Team crew have been fantastic and it's been great fun to put in a season together.

"I am hoping that I can give everyone else a championship to remember this year with me.

"We will have learning curves to overcome next year but I am up for the new goal.

"I hope to have a good year and my goal is to try and stay in the top 6-8 which, given the talented line up, will be a tall order."