The deal, to be announced on Friday, will see the British rider in a factory team for the first time in MotoGP.

Crutchlow, 27, who has taken four podiums with his Tech 3 team this year, had initially wanted to stay with Yamaha but wanted assurances of a factory ride, which were not given.

Crutchlow will replace 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden at Ducati.

There are only three full factory teams in MotoGP - at Ducati, Yamaha and Repsol Honda.

These six bikes benefit from updates and higher spec machinery before the other teams, who lease their bikes from the factories.

The last British riders in a MotoGP factory team were Jeremy McWilliams and Shane Byrne with Aprilia Racing in 2004.

Both Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi's contract with the factory Yamaha team run until 2015, while Repsol Honda have Spaniards Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa signed up.

In May, Crutchlow revealed that Yamaha were in talks with Moto2 rider Pol Espargaro for a Tech 3 ride in 2014, angering Crutchlow who felt he deserved a factory contract. Crutchlow's team-mate, Bradley Smith, also has a contract with the satellite team for 2014, seemingly leaving the British rider without a ride in 2014.

Yamaha though were keen for Crutchlow, who has finished as the top satellite rider in all but two races this year, to stay with the Tech 3 team.

Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis revealed ongoing talks with Crutchlow's management team as late as this week, telling motogp.com: "Now is the time to make money in your career, so the main issue is that we are trying to see if we can put together an offer that is enough for him to stay."

Crutchlow will rejoin former Tech 3 team-mate Andrea Dovizioso at Ducati next year. Dovizioso finished fourth in the championship for Tech 3 last year, but his best finish for Ducati this season has been a fourth place.

Ducati have struggled in recent years, not winning a race since Casey Stoner took victory at the Australian Grand Prix in 2010.

Seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi rejoined Yamaha this year after a two-year spell with Ducati in which he only managed three podiums.

The Audi takeover of Ducati has prompted big changes in the managerial side of the MotoGP project but they still remain without a single podium in 2013, with Ducati Corse general manager Bernhard Gobmeier talking of a two-year project to get Ducati back to a competitive level.

Yamaha are set to announce Pol Espargaro as Crutchlow's replacement in the Tech 3 team shortly after Ducati's announcement.



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