Lorenzo’s new deal
Paddock insiders suggest shock switch to Suzuki
Jorge Lorenzo could be about to walk away from Ducati in a shock move to Suzuki for the 2019 season.
The five-time world champion had a rough time in 2017 and things have not improved so far this year. He has struggled to get to grips with the Desmosedici and is yet to take a race victory. His last win in the premier class came in his final race for Yamaha back at Valencia in 2016, making it 21 races without taking the top spot on the podium, his longest dry spell by far since his debut in 2008.
Famous for his 250 riding technique where he carries huge corner speed to make his silkysmooth style work, Lorenzo had the perfect bike at Yamaha.
The Ducati rider is still struggling with mid-corner turning, an issue that’s plagued the Desmo since Valentino Rossi rode for the Italian team in 2012. Lorenzo has tried to adjust his riding style, but hasn’t been able to return to winning ways. The Spaniard is the only rider to have ever beaten Marc Marquez to a world MotoGP and Ducati tempted him with a significant payrise. The more limited resources at Suzuki would mean a substantial pay cut from the rumoured €12 million a year that he’s currently earning. Lorenzo’s management team will almost certainly be looking to secure a strong win bonus structure with Suzuki. That is an arrangement that could also suit the Hamamatsu firm, who would be able to reduce their own financial risk by working with specialist insurers to cover any Lorenzo successes. However, while MCN’s sources believe that the deal has already been drawn up and that the news could be announced as soon as this weekend’s home race in Jerez, the 30-year-old remained cryptic about the chances of making a switch. He said: “I’m still trying His €12m salary would take a hit really hard to make the Ducati and Lorenzo partnership work. And I believe it can be done. That’s my only focus for now. The other part is something for my management to do when it’s time, and let’s see what happens then.” Lorenzo would join Alex Rins at Suzuki. Rins is already proving himself with the team and is thought to have agreed a new deal, although this has not yet been officially announced. Impressing in his second season after an injury-filled debut last year, the youngest rider on the grid said in Austin that he and Suzuki were finalising the details of a new two-year deal.