MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo Will Remain With Yamaha for 2016

Jorge Lorenzo is to remain with Yamaha for the 2016 season. The Spaniard had an option to leave the Movistar Yamaha team at the end of 2015, but has decided not to exercise it, and will stay with Yamaha for next year.

The Movistar Yamaha team also had an option to end the two-year deal a year early, but Yamaha Racing director Lin Jarvis told the MotoGP.com website that both the team and Lorenzo and decided to see the contract through to the end.

The decision to continue the partnership will put an end to speculation that had arisen in the paddock in the past few weeks. Rumors had started that Lorenzo was considering a switch to Ducati for next season.

The newly competitive GP15 has made the Ducati a much more attractive option for riders looking to switch, and Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall’Igna is known to be an admirer of Lorenzo. Dall’Igna worked with Lorenzo extensively when the Spaniard was riding for Aprilia in 250s.

Accommodating Lorenzo would have been difficult. Both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone have a contract with Ducati for next season, with no option to terminate the deals early. Given the competitiveness of both riders, there is little reason for Ducati to go searching elsewhere for riders.

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.