MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will have a new team mate next year after Honda announced yesterday that Dani Pedrosa was leaving at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, whose top flight career has been plagued by injury and operations, has spent his entire grand prix career with the Japanese manufacturer since his 125cc debut in 2001.
“I want to thank HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) for all these years of great success. I have grown not only as a rider but also as a person with them,” said the rider, who was 125cc champion in 2003 and took 250cc crowns in 2004 and 2005.
“In life we all need new challenges and I feel it’s time for a change.”
Pedrosa has won 31 grands prix with Honda and is a three times runner-up in MotoGP.
He has yet to finish on the podium this year, however, and is currently 12th.
It has now emerged that Honda is keen on placing Lorenzo alongside reigning champion Marc Marquez for 2019 - and that it has already held preliminary talks with the 31-year-old.
Lorenzo, who won MotoGP titles with Yamaha in 2010, ‘12 and ‘15, had struggled since joining Ducati last year, but took a breakthrough maiden win in dominant style last weekend at Mugello.
Shortly after his victory, Lorenzo told Spanish media: “My story with Ducati is over.
“A part of me is sad because I know that with this bike I could have fought to be world champion, which is why I came here. Now it’s too late. There is nothing to be done.”
When it became clear he could leave Ducati at the end of his current contract, Lorenzo emerged as a prime target for Suzuki but it has since elected to pursue Moto2 ace Joan Mir instead.
Consequently, Lorenzo has been working on a return to the Yamaha fold with what is believed to be a Petronas-backed satellite ride alongside current Marc VDS Honda rookie Franco Morbidelli.
This remains an option for Lorenzo - but should he elect to join forces with Honda, it would be logical that Pedrosa could end up on the satellite Yamaha instead.
In a separate statement following the announcement of his Honda departure, Pedrosa said further information on his future would be disclosed at MotoGP’s next race weekend at Barcelona.
Honda signing Lorenzo would create a star-studded line-up for its works outfit, with the manufacturer having announced a new two-year contract for four-time champion and current points leader Marquez earlier this year.
Asked about the identity of his next team-mate during his Formula 1 test outing in Austria, Marquez - who has only raced alongside Pedrosa since joining MotoGP - said: “It’s something that Honda is discussing, trying to find the best team-mate.
“At the moment I don’t have the last news but I know that they were speaking with many many riders, as you know, as (previously) with (Johann) Zarco, (Andrea) Dovizioso.
“I think they will announce soon something. But I don’t know, that’s something that Honda needs to answer, I cannot say anything.”
Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa during qualifying round of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello Circuit, Scarperia, Italy, on Saturday. (Reuters)
