Official: Honda signs Lorenzo on two-year deal

Honda has confirmed Jorge Lorenzo has signed for the factory team on a two-year deal to replace the outgoing Dani Pedrosa.

After two years at Ducati, Lorenzo will make the move to the factory Honda squad alongside Marc Marquez from 2019 on a two-year deal. Yesterday Honda confirmed Pedrosa would be leaving the team at the end of this season after 13 consecutive years at the squad.

Lorenzo had been previously linked to a satellite Yamaha move after the Spaniard looked set to leave Ducati but in a shock move the three-time MotoGP world champion will switch to Repsol Honda from next season.

After joining Ducati from Yamaha in 2017, Lorenzo had struggled to match expectations at the Italian manufacturer but secured a breakthrough maiden race win last weekend at Mugello. Lorenzo conceded the victory came with mixed emotions as he confirmed he’d be racing “on a different bike” next year to unofficially confirm his Ducati exit.

On Tuesday, HRC confirmed Pedrosa would be leaving the team ‘by mutual consent’ to end a partnership which began in the 125cc class in 2002 which resulted in 13 consecutive seasons at the factory’s official MotoGP team.

Today’s announcement Lorenzo will replace his fellow countryman at Honda, to team-mate Marquez at the squad from 2019. The latest rumours suggest Pedrosa could switch to the proposed new satellite Yamaha team backed by Petronas.