With the announcement by Honda today (see press release below) that it has renewed its relationship with MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa through the end of the 2016 season, Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo remains the sole, unsigned “Alien” in the MotoGP series. Pedrosa joins Marquez as teammate at the Factory Repsol Honda Team through the two-year extension.
Lorenzo’s Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi has likewise signed a two-year contract extension with Yamaha, but no word yet on Lorenzo’s future following the end of this year. Lorenzo was expected to be one of the hottest, if not the hottest, commodity during this year’s silly season, but he is in the midst of his poorest performance as a professional roadracer in quite some time.
Although his performance this year has surely reduced his negotiating power, there could still be interest from Yamaha rivals, such as Ducati, in his future services. We will have to wait and see where Lorenzo will end up next year.
Here is the press release from Honda regarding Pedrosa:
Honda Racing Corporation Renews Contract with Dani Pedrosa until End of 2016
TOKYO, Japan, July 9, 2014 – Honda Racing Corporation is pleased to announce an agreement has been reached with Dani Pedrosa that will see the Spanish rider remain in the factory Honda team for a further two years, until the end of
Dani, who currently lies third (level on points with second place Valentino Rossi) in the current FIM Road Racing World Championship season approaching the halfway point, will extend his contract with Honda, with whom he has raced since his debut in the World Championship in 2001. Dani, three-time World Champion (2003 in 125cc, 2004 and 2005 in 250cc) debuted in MotoGP in 2006 in the Repsol Honda Team, claiming the Rookie of the Year title and fifth position in the Championship. He has been both second second and third in the premier class on three occasions.
Comments:
Dani Pedrosa
“I’m very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda Team, and grateful to Honda for the trust they have shown in me for a further two years. It’s the best way for me to continue in my racing career, together with the company I was with in my very first race. I am very excited to give my 100% and continue to work together with everyone at Honda Racing Corporation”.
Shuhei Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Honda Racing Corporation
“We are very pleased to renew our contract with Dani. He is enjoying a very strong season and is currently tied with Rossi in the Championship, we are very happy with his performance. The partnership of Dani and Marc has proven to be successful and we look forward to another two years of success”.
Dani Pedrosa’s World Championship Statistics:
MotoGP
Starts: 141
Podiums: 90 (25 x 1st, 35 x 2nd, 30 x 3rd)
Poles: 27
Fastest Race Laps: 40
Best World Championship positions: 2nd (2012, 2010, 2007), 3rd (2013, 2009, 2008)
250cc
Starts: 32
Podiums: 24 (15 x 1st, 8 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd)
Poles: 9
Fastest Race Laps: 15
World Champion: 2005, 2004
125cc:
Starts: 46
Podiums: 17 (8 x 1st, 4 x 2nd, 5 x 3rd)
Poles: 9
Fastest Race Laps: 5
World Champion: 2003
Standing alone in 2nd. Probably where he will finish.
Pedrosa is this era’s Max Biaggi. Maybe it’s time for him to hit up WSB 🙂
Lorenzo on a Duc – that’ll lift his spirits right up. He and Crutchlow could stagger through the pits together with Collin.
What? Crutchlow isn’t happy? How can you tell?
Just in, Lorenzo to ride a modified Ruckus for a satellite Honda team…
Regarding HRC’s seemingly inexplicable decision to resign Dani Pedrosa for two more Washington Generals-esque hapless campaigns, here is Shuhei Nakamoto’s unexpurgated quote lifted directly from Norm G’s purloined “Black Files” cache of Moto GP insider clips…
“We are very happy with his performance (as #93’s faithful caddy). The partnership of Dani and Marc has proven to be successful (for Marc, anyway) and we look forward to another two years of success (again, for Marc, with diminutive Dani continuing to serve as his feckless foot-servant).”
LOL. well done. (Javier Bardem accent)
Ahhh VLJ, you make it so much fun to be a fan of # 26 lol
No kidding. Every two years like clockwork the anti-Pedrosa loons rend garments and gnash teeth. Hilarity ensues.
Its a shame too. They got all worked up about a racing incident that happened 8 years ago when Pedrosa was a rookie, which had no bearing on the outcome of the season whatsoever, and they are so blinded by it, they can’t see the brilliance of a racer who is in the top 8 race winners of all times, who was told he was too small to be a MotoGP pilot, yet still has a 63% on podium average, who was WC in 2003, 2004, 2005 in 125 and 250 classes, was rookie of the year in 2006 and has finished in the top 2 or 3 six times out of the last 8 years in the premier class. Who do they think is a better rider to take his spot?
Fully expect this to be awaiting moderation..you may see it eventually
Rossi gets 2nd or third place and he’s old and washed up. DP does the same and he’s brilliant. Interesting.
I NEVER said Rossi was washed up..well I did when he was riding the Ducati, but he wasn’t getting 2nds then.Since his return to Yamaha he has been nothing short of brilliant.
Evidently…it IS the bikes (Ducati’s) fault that Rossi couldn’t win on it.
But wait, there’s more…
“Our esteemed sponsor, Spanish oil-giant Reposl Industries, well, their crack market-research team determined that Dani is, in fact, ‘more Spanish’ than Jorge Lorenzo is, what with Jorge’s bullheaded refusal to take siesta at the usual hour, whereas Dani takes his at the traditional time of day—which, unfortunately, often happens to be smack-dab in the middle of a Moto GP race. Whatever. As Nicky Hayden also discovered, it’s good to be Spanish. Or ‘more Spanish,’ as the case may be.
“Oh, hey, wassup, mickey. ~shoots a friendly wave at my fellow Honda Pal For Life, mickey-san~”
Norm G, seriously, you need to start sharing with the rest of the classroom. Stop bogarting all the cool inside info.
Oooh, another dreaded “your comment is awaiting moderation” response. Man, half my posts get hit with those!
Lol equal opportunity moderation . You just have to laugh sometimes.
Hopefully it will pass muster and post here soon, as it involves another of Norm G’s pirated Moto GP soundbites. In this one, Shuhei Nakamoto concludes his remarks by directly addressing…you!
ROTFL…really! Good stuff VLJ!
“Mickey san”…wonder if I can change my log in name. That sounds cool.
Obviously Honda should have signed up Hayden, a rider with proven ability to win championships.
But they won’t because Darth Puig is putting some Jedi mind meld on Nakamoto. Lend him your tinfoil cap, VLJ.
What were Honda’s options that would result in as much success? The guy is perennially a top 5 finisher, and top 3 a good portion of those times. Aleix or Pol, who else might come close to getting that many podiums. He’s tied for second place in the championship standings. Where else were they going to get that? Everyone on the grid should be carrying Marc’s boots.
This morning, when JLo steps up to the bathroom mirror, probably somewhat hung over, he’s going to see a guy whose opportunities have dwindled. He may have bloodshot eyes, 3 day beard growth and smell like cheap Spanish beer but that guy in the mirror is still one of the best bike racers in the world. Come on JLo, now is not the time to quit your day job. Put down the cheap beer and flog your steed, you can still do it.
I sit here with baited breath, ready to hit the ‘Submit Comment’ button. Will the Fun Warden slap me with “Your comment is awaiting moderation”? Doesn’t matter, here goes……..
hey I just got the awaiting moderation for my comment below Noorms Great move Dan post. Don’t follow Norm!
Welcome to the order of “The Marked”. 🙂
Dang, that just got moderated.
lorenzo should of not said he was afraid of getting hurt like he did a year earlier at assen. he is second gussing himself,and has lost some confidence. i think yamaha will use this against him. he needs to have a good weekend and get some momentum going, first to beat rossi and then to beat marc
Dani is the perfect teammate. He is consistently in the top 4 and will assure the constructors and team titles for the next two years without threatening the crown from MM. There was no other suitable choice. Best of luck to JL but Repsol was never going to happen for him. Not for the price he expects. As much as we ‘Mericans don’t want to accept it, nobody else deserves this ride.
And… If MM does was himself up, Pedrosa is right there tied in points with Valentino for second to take up the slack. Win win for Honda.
Wad …not was
Damn keyboard! 😉
Sorry VLJ! Smart move Honda!
re: “Smart move Honda!”
Smart move Dan!
Absolutely smart move Dani. He is well thought of at Honda, has a great team and motorcycle and from what I have read has a great rapport with Marquez … plus a decent paycheck lol, although I think unless something drastic happens to Marquez his chances of a World Championship in the premier class to go with his 125 and 250 World Championships is but a pipe dream now. Too bad, great racer.
re: “He is well thought of at Honda, has a great team and motorcycle and from what I have read has a great rapport with Marquez … plus a decent paycheck”
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE…!!!
(drumroll)
…no Puig.
Looks like Yamaha will get a bargain re-signing him with no open seats anywhere else.
If Suzuki had the dough and their MotoGP bike was ready for next year, that could be an interesting combo…
re: “If Suzuki had the dough”
and that’s one BIG if. (Lt. Aldo voice)
Wow, that throws out my “Lorenzo to Factory Honda to team with Marquez” theory
re: “that throws out my “Lorenzo to Factory Honda to team with Marquez” theory”
wit the “gahbige”.