MotoGP 2018

Jorge Lorenzo to Honda for 2019-2020, replacing Dani Pedrosa.

Honda announces Jorge Lorenzo's two-year MotoGP deal for 2019/20

Honda has announced Jorge Lorenzo will join Marc Marquez on a two-year deal in its factory MotoGP line-up.

As previously reported by Autosport, Honda has settled on three-time champion Lorenzo as its replacement for Dani Pedrosa, who will leave the team after 13 seasons with Honda in the premier class.

Lorenzo rode a Honda 250cc bike back in 2005, his first season in the intermediate class, and finished fifth in the standings.

After graduating to MotoGP in 2008, he spent nine years at the Yamaha factory team, winning MotoGP titles in '10, '12 and '15.
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Danilo Petrucci to take Lorenzo's seat at Ducati.

Ducati signs Danilo Petrucci for 2019 MotoGP as Lorenzo replacement

Ducati has announced that Danilo Petrucci will step up to its factory MotoGP team in 2019 as the replacement for Honda-bound Jorge Lorenzo.

Petrucci has raced for the satellite Pramac team since the 2015 season and he has campaigned a works-spec Ducati Desmosedici since the beginning of '17, scoring five podiums in that time.

Lorenzo's shock move to Honda after two seasons with Ducati, reported by Autosport on Tuesday and confirmed on Wednesday morning, has paved the way for Petrucci's move.

He will partner Andrea Dovizioso for 2019 on what is currently a one-year agreement, with Dovizioso having signed an extension with Ducati last month.

"It goes without saying that for me, being part of the factory team is a dream come true," said Petrucci.

"It's a great honour to become an official rider for the Ducati Team, especially for someone like me who started in Ducati as a production motorcycle test rider.
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Word is Suzuki was looking at Lorenzo but they may now make a move for Moto2's Joan Mir. Andrea Iannone is set to leave Suzuki and join Aprilia.
 
I like Petrucci to Ducati. He seems like a team player (something that Lorenzo never was) and I think he and Dovi will work well together. So no word on Pedrosa then? Is he staying on at Honda as a reserve/test rider?

Marquez and Lorenzo... Eish, fireworks methinks.
 
Agent_Smith said:
I like Petrucci to Ducati. He seems like a team player (something that Lorenzo never was) and I think he and Dovi will work well together. So no word on Pedrosa then? Is he staying on at Honda as a reserve/test rider?
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Looks like he and HRC are going their separate ways, so no reserve/test duties.

Honda's announcement specifies that the partnership will be terminated "by mutual agreement".

"I want to thank HRC [Honda Racing Corporation] for all these years of great success," Pedrosa said. "I have grown not only as a rider but also as a person with them. I will always have HRC in my memories and in my heart.

"In life we all need new challenges and I feel it's time for a change. Thanks, HRC."
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https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/honda-announces-pedrosa-exit-1044620/

Marquez and Lorenzo... Eish, fireworks methinks.
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It's definitely not going to end well, especially if Lorenzo can still race consistently at the front.
 
At least there is some proper racing this weekend after last Sunday's Canadian F1 snorefest.
 
Joan Mir confirmed to Suzuki on a two-year deal.

Suzuki announces MotoGP promotion for Mir

The Suzuki MotoGP team has confirmed it will promote Moto2 ace Joan Mir to the premier class next year.
Mir, 20, will replace Andrea Iannone aboard a works Suzuki GSX-RR for the next two years, partnering Alex Rins, who had been officially retained back in May.

Mir emerged as the next big thing in grand prix racing when he won the Moto3 title in his second year in the category in 2017 – claiming 10 wins along the way, the best lightweight-class tally since Marc Marquez's 125cc title run seven years prior.

He adapted quickly to Moto2 after joining frontrunning outfit Marc VDS, and currently sits fifth in the standings in his rookie year, having picked up back-to-back podiums at Le Mans and Mugello.

“Joan Mir is only 20 years old now, already a world champion with an impressive 10 wins last year,” said team manager Davide Brivio.

“He is fierce, he is witty, he is nice and he can be very fast. All the characteristics that we like to search for in a young rider, who wants to join us not only for the prestige of a factory machine in the top class but most of all because he believes in our racing project.
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One of the greatest ever was at Catalunya in 2009, Rossi vs Lorenzo. What made it even better was Lorenzo claiming that it wasn't possible to pass in to the final corner and whomever was in front heading in to it would win the race.

Not the best quality video:

[video=youtube;zVXeB0TtCyw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVXeB0TtCyw[/video]

Better quality, sans commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNJtvDTXTAc
 
faniebraai said:
And then Marquez again has a wtf save in FP4.... It makes no sense how he does it
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At 160km/h he pivots a 160kg Honda on his knee and elbow from a 65° lean angle ‘till it’s upright again... what’s not to understand?










He’s an alien and not from this planet.
 
Yoh, good Q2. I missed the Marquez save in real time but caught the replay. I just don't know anymore...

Should be a great race. If Lorenzo can carry his race pace from Mugello forward then he should have the measure of Marquez. Hopefully they do the honourable future team-matey thing and take each other out. That should make things frosty in the Honda garage in 2019 :D
 
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