MotoGP star Jorge Lorenzo could make an announcement on his future at next week’s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, if not before, with a confirmed offer from Ducati and a renewed deal from Yamaha on the table.
According to his manager and representative, Marcos Hirsch, who spoke on Friday (21st August) Lorenzo and his advisors are now considering the two options, with a move onto Honda machinery already ruled out. MotoGP
Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha boss is confident the Spaniard will turn down a massive pay deal from rivals Ducati to commit his future to the Japanese factory.
Ducati and Marlboro have offered Lorenzo a deal to make him the second highest paid rider behind current Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.
But the 22-year-old has always maintained throughout protracted negotiations with Yamaha that his number one priority was to remain on a factory YZR-M1 machine in 2010. Motorcycle News
Nicky Hayden, who could be frozen out of Ducati’s factory team should Lorenzo quit Yamaha, said: “I heard they’ve got the cheque book out. It would be interesting and it would be a brave move but money talks.
“It seems like Jorge is in a pretty good spot where here is now but I don’t know all the ins and outs. But I’m sure this Lorenzo deal is on the front-burner.” Motorcycle News
UPDATE: August 25, 2009 10:30 am
Yamaha confirm Jorge Lorenzo as rider for The Fiat Yamaha MotoGP Team For 2010
Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha Motor Company have signed a one year extension to the current rider agreement that will see Lorenzo, presently second in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship standings, as team mate of reigning MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi for another year.
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “We are obviously delighted that Jorge has decided to stay at Yamaha for the next season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come. Jorge has shown his talent, his ability to learn and to compete at the highest level with many excellent performances in 2008 and 2009. We have no doubt that he has the ability and drive to become MotoGP World Champion and we are proud that he has decided to remain with Yamaha, despite having received some very serious approaches from some of our competitors. This timely decision now allows us to focus on the present championship, where our riders are currently first and second, and to make definitive plans for our 2010 MotoGP program.”
“I am very happy!” said Jorge Lorenzo. “Today is a good day because I have decided to remain with the Yamaha Factory Team in 2010. It was a very important decision and that’s why I have had to take the last few weeks to make it, but I think that this is the best decision for me in this moment. I want to thank Yamaha because they have always done everything that they have promised, and I especially would like to say thank you to Lin Jarvis and Masao Furusawa.”
The former world 250cc champion said in the build-up to the race at Donington on 26 July: “It’s not a question of money, it’s a question of do Yamaha want me or does another brand want me more.”
“I think Yamaha want me to stay but I don’t know how much they want me.”
The current contract of Yamaha’s other rider, Rossi, was signed before the global recession kicked in and Lorenzo hinted in July that the financial disparity with his team-mate had been part of the problem.
Despite denying that money was the stumbling block over contract negotiations, Lorenzo stated: “Yamaha has two very talented riders - maybe they don’t have the potential to offer to the two riders the same.”
British rider James Toseland, whose Tech 3 Yamaha deal expires at the end of the campaign, will also be relieved Lorenzo has committed his immediate future to the team. BBC Sport
Lorenzo’s decision ends the hopes of Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden or Colin Edwards of securing the coveted slot next to eight-times world Rossi.
Pedrosa was understood to be delaying signing his Repsol Honda contract until Lorenzo had decided his future with the triple world champion keen on a move to ride a factory YZR-M1.
Hayden was also a leading contender with any Ducati deal for Lorenzo leaving the 2006 world champion frozen out of the Bologna factory squad.
And had Lorenzo jumped to Ducati in a shock move, Yamaha had also admitted to considering moving Texan Edwards back to its factory team.
The outcome of Lorenzo’s decision is likely to mean that Pedrosa will now go ahead and finalise his new two-year deal with HRC after Honda management confirmed at the last race in Brno that a ‘basic agreement’ had been reached for next season.
Hayden is now likely to be given another year to show he can master Ducati’s fickle Desmosedici alongside Casey Stoner, with Ducati poised to exercise an early September option on the Kentucky rider. Motorcycle News
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