As expected, the announcement dropped today that Jorge Lorenzo will be leaving the Movistar Yamaha team at the end of this season, for a new racing opportunity with Ducati Corse.
Details are light at this time, mostly because of Lorenzo’s ongoing contract with Yamaha Racing for the rest of the MotoGP season, but we do know that the Spaniard has inked a two-year with the Italian outfit.
Lorenzo’s move to Ducati will mean a cascade of changes in the MotoGP paddock, with the next phase of the silly season process likely to focus on who will replace him as Valentino Rossi’s teammate.
Good money is on Maverick Viñales, but as we pointed out in the latest Paddock Pass Podcast episode, Suzuki has redoubled its efforts to retain the young Spanish rider. The odds of him jumping ship is probably now even money.
Alex Rins is another name being talked about, as the Moto2 racer is widely expected to move into MotoGP next season. Yamaha’s preference though would seem to have Rins in the Tech 3 satellite team, however.
Other rumors include Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Iannone, the latter bringing up the issue of who Lorenzo will replace in the Ducati garage.
Earlier this year, that name likely would have been Andrea Dovizioso, but recent events, and the fact that Ducati needs a development rider to compliment Lorenzo, could mean the exit sign is illuminating for Iannone.
Although the most important piece of the silly season puzzle has found its home, this game is far from over. Stay tuned.
Source: Yamaha Racing & Ducati Corse
Comments