[badri]

Originally Posted by killjoy

JL may be riding in a non-factory Yamaha next year -

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...uzuki-1041734/

Well, this is good news. Only hope Yamaha gives full factory support for him and also sends across Ramon Forcada.

[killjoy]

I doubt that, One of the reasons that Tech3 is moving away from Yamaha was that they were not getting full factory support. Don't expect that to change with Marc VDS

But lets see, this is all still speculation at this time...

[MonsterPatrol]

Originally Posted by badri

Well, this is good news. Only hope Yamaha gives full factory support for him and also sends across Ramon Forcada.

Making the move to a Yamaha satellite team with Marc VDS won't be that easy.

Rumour has it that Jorge met a certain oil giant at the recent Monaco GP who might back him to start his own team.

What Guido Meda says is rather interesting
"Things should be like this. So, Yamaha is not promising any third bike to Lorenzo. However, Lorenzo could have in mind to make HIM a customer team for Yamaha, with himself as a driver. And with Ezpeleta's blessing. This could be the real surprise option that Jorge is thinking and to which we all go around. " But, be careful, Yamaha now - as you know - is dealing with Marc Vds. To make a customer team with VDS, however, it serves: 1) Vds and Bartholemy agree, 2) that at that point they agree Vds and Yamaha, 3) that VDS wants to pay the engagement to Lorenzo since Yamaha his driver's budget has already engaged him with Rossi and Vinales. Not easy".

"If instead Jorge turned into an entrepreneur / driver and you pay him (or his sponsors) an M1? I think Yamaha would give it to him willingly; would bring back a pilot of great value and should not even pay for it. However, more than 4 bikes on the track do not put any more on Yamaha. Two are the officers. The other two? Or: Lorenzo offers to stay in Ducati without engagement and with only race prizes, spreading 25 million over four years instead of two. Personally I think that we must do everything to not lose a good driver like him. Hello!"

[badri]

Good news from Lorenzo! He will continue for next 2 years

https://www.gpone.com/en/2018/05/31/...e-in-2019.html

[ashwin.terminat]

Iannone will leave Suzuki at the end of 2018 season:
https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/89...e-leave-suzuki

Iannone says he will move to a factory team and not a satellite.



But apparently, Joan Mir is a strong contendor for the soon-to-be-vacant seat at Suzuki alongside Alex Rins.


I hope JLO99 gets the seat since it looks like a bike that is very close to the Yamaha that Lorenzo tasted so much success on.

[Omkar]

Honda pulls the plug on Dani.

Sad to see him go.

Pedrosa has used Honda machinery throughout his grand prix motorcycle racing career, winning the 2003 125cc and '04 and '05 250cc titles with its bikes and being part of its works MotoGP squad since 2006.

The tension to Catalunya now builds up as more news will come by then.

Source

[killjoy]

JL to ride for HRC next year -

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/ne...drosa-1044691/

[fz_rider]

And it looks like its going to be all Italian team at Ducati. Petrucci to replace Lorenzo.

Source : https://www.autosport.com/motogp/new...eplace-lorenzo

[Amey Kulkarni]

So, after all the chaos in the MotoGP garage, finally the changes look like this effective 2019 so far -

Jorge Lorenzo - HRC
Zarco - KTM
Petrucci - Factory Ducati
Francesco Bagnaia - Pramac Ducati


Link - https://www.crash.net/motogp/feature...-lineup-so-far

Cheers,
Amey

[killjoy]

Looks like Iannone going to Aprillia is also confirmed

[MonsterPatrol]

It's official. Jorge Lorenzo to HRC.

A full on factory assault spearheaded by Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo. Lin Jarvis must be shitting in his pants right now

[aravind.anand]

But historically, Lorenzo has never been known to play a good teammate. The last race of 2017 where he ignored all team communication on his dashboard and also the blatant messages on the board and tried to keep the title contender Dovizioso behind him is just added testimony to this fact. Marquez had real good company in the form of Dani Pedrosa, who was matured and wise enough to admit that he was playing the supporting role at HRC. Wonder how two strong personalities like Marquez and Lorenzo would cope in the same team now.

[ksameer1234]

Originally Posted by MonsterPatrol

It's official. Jorge Lorenzo to HRC.

A full on factory assault spearheaded by Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo.

Given that Rossi accused Marquez and Lorenzo of teaming up to keep him at bay in 2015, I wonder what would happen next year now!!

[MonsterPatrol]

Originally Posted by ksameer1234

Given that Rossi accused Marquez and Lorenzo of teaming up to keep him at bay in 2015, I wonder what would happen next year now!!

Tell you what's gonna happen. The booing is not gonna stop because the winning is not going to.

Tbh, I'm more optimistic about Jorge going to HRC than I was when he joined Ducati. He has made the Ducati work which also is a completely different machinery to Yamaha.Im pretty confident with all his talent and the tremendous self confidence he has in himself he will make the Honda work too.

PS: with all the rumours going around that MM might block a strong contender to come over as a team mate has been proved false. He does like a challenge, and this proves it. Huge respect to that. So does Jorge. First it was Ducati and now HRC.

PPS: Seeing the way Vinales is going out and blasting Yam, don't be surprised if Yamaha show him the door. Vale is riding the wheels off it and securing podiums. He's got no excuses anymore. Is there an exit clause in the contract?

I never fell for the whole Yamaha/satellite/Petronas bullshit. It was never going to happen. Jorge said he's not going to retire and will be on a different 'competitive bike' next year and he would announce the decision in Barcelona while the Sepang head was still running around Mugello paddock trying to make something work. It's a misconception that Yamaha were going to offer Jorge identical machinery as VR/MV. It wouldn't have been any different to Zarco's situation if not worse. And the way Zarco has embarrassed them this year they wouldn't make the same mistake again. It was going to be an occasional podium contender, nothing else. Knowing Jorge, he would rather ride the Ducati for free.

I'll share the link to this interview with Lin Jarvis where he specifies clearly about the bike they were going to offer Jorge if the whole thing ever came to be.

Not many people know this but Jorge was the first choice for HRC way back in 2012 when Stoner announced his retirement. Only when he declined they brought Marquez on.

[Makin Rulesz]

That was the most unexpected news with most of the rumors suggesting a move to Suzuki or a satellite Yamaha team or last being staying back at Ducati.
It definitely makes an interesting combination at Honda, considering Marquez was never challenged by a teammate. Also worthwhile to note how much time would it take for Lorenzo to adjust to Honda which by general perception is a difficult bike to tame.

Some interesting facts about their combined achievements.

The statistics of the superstar lineup of Marquez and Lorenzo at Repsol Honda make for incredible reading: the two men share a total of 11 Championships, 130 victories and 255 podiums between them - many of which have been fought against each other. The two are also the only riders to have been crowned MotoGP™ World Champion since 2011 – Lorenzo in 2012 and 2015, adding to his first premier class crown taken in 2010, and Marquez in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.