Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso debut with Honda's MotoGP factory team was no longer at doubt on Friday after the Japanese automobile and motorbike maker confirmed its participation in motorcycling's premier championship.
Dovizioso, 22, moved to Honda this season after his MotoGP debut with Honda satellite team JiR Team Scot in 2008.
Doubts over Honda's participation in MotoGP arose following its decision in December to drop out of the Formula One championship as a cost-cutting measure, in response to the global economic crunch.
The automotive sector has been hit hard by the worldwide recession and aside from Honda quiting Formula 1, Subaru and Suzuki have pulled out of the world rally championship while motorbike maker Kawasaki has dropped out of MotoGP, leaving Italy's Marco Melandri without a ride.
Honda announced on Friday that while it was withdrawing from several motorcycling championships, including motocross and other off-road racing, it had no plans to leave MotoGP.
Honda has collected 14 premier class titles since winning their first in 1983. The last was in 2006.
Dovizioso was fifth in the 2008 MotoGP season with his best performance a third-place finish.
He won the 125cc title in 2004 and the following year moved up to the 250cc class to become rookie of the year.
Dovizioso battled for the 250cc title in 2006 and 2007 but in the end had to settle for second both years behind Jorge Lorenzo.
