Lorenzo to Honda; Pedrosa could retire
A shock move to Honda for three-time Motogp champion Jorge Lorenzo headlines a raft of 2019 rider moves that have been confirmed in the past week.
After nearly 18 months of struggles, Lorenzo (right, top) took his first victory for Ducati on the Bologna marque’s home turf at Mugello earlier this month.
Speculation had been rife that Lorenzo was poised for a return to the Yamaha fold after his Ducati stint, most likely in a new Petronas-backed, Sepang-owned satellite operation. But on the Tuesday after Mugello, Honda announced it would not be retaining Dani Pedrosa (right, bottom) beyond the end of the 2018 season, with confirmation of Lorenzo’s arrival at the squad alongside Marc Marquez following the next day.
Replacing Lorenzo at Ducati is Danilo Petrucci, who steps up to join Andrea Dovizioso on a full works bike on a oneyear deal, with Moto2 points leader Francesco Bagnaia having already been confirmed to take Petrucci’s place at the satellite Pramac Ducati squad.
Pedrosa’s future, meanwhile, remains unclear, and there have been suggestions that he will announce his retirement at his home race at Barcelona this weekend.
Elsewhere, Suzuki has formalised its
2019 line-up, signing rising star Joan Mir to partner Alex Rins. Andrea Iannone, who revealed at Mugello that he would not be staying with the Japanese manufacturer, has firmed up a move to Aprilia, where he replaces Scott Redding.
With all 12 of the premier class’s factory seats for the 2019 season now filled, attention will turn towards the few remaining privateer rides still up for grabs.
Tech3 has firmed up its riders for next year, retaining Hafizh Syahrin alongside Moto2 graduate Miguel Oliveira on its KTMS, while LCR is highly likely to retain Honda protege Takaaki Nakagami alongside the already-contracted Cal Crutchlow.
That leaves the hypothetical Petronas Yamaha team as the most attractive seat still up for grabs, with current Marc VDS Honda rider Franco Morbidelli expected to take one of its bikes.