Jorge Lorenzo will leave Yamaha at the end of the 2016 MotoGP season with a move to Ducati confirmed by the Italian manufacturer. His contract with Ducati will be for two seasons, covering 2017 and 2018, with an option for a third.
Lorenzo has been a Yamaha rider since his 2008 premier-class debut, winning 41 races and three world titles. Shortly after an announcement from Yamaha confirming Lorenzo’s departure, Ducati duly issued the following statement:
“Ducati announces that it has reached an agreement with Jorge Lorenzo thanks to which the Spanish rider will take part in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017 and 2018 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Team. Lorenzo, born in Palma de Mallorca on 4 May 1987, has won five world championship titles throughout his racing career (250cc in 2006 and 2007 and MotoGP in 2010, 2012 and 2015).”
A Yamaha statement read: “Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announces that its partnership with Jorge Lorenzo will be discontinued at the close of the 2016 MotoGP season, when Lorenzo will move on to new racing challenges.”
“Since Lorenzo joined the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2008, Lorenzo and Yamaha won three MotoGP World Championships (2010, 2012 and 2015), clinched 41 race wins and have been on the podium 99 times out of 141 races contested.”
“Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge’s contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 MotoGP rounds of 2016, their ninth season together.”
“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. wishes Lorenzo the very best in his future racing endeavours and reconfirms the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team’s full support on his campaign to achieve his fourth MotoGP title.”
“Having already reconfirmed Valentino Rossi for 2017-18, Yamaha will announce the future Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team riders’ line-up in due course after securing the services of the second rider.”
Ducati’s present Present riders Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone have both claimed podiums and poles, but lack the multi race-winning record of Lorenzo, Rossi, Marc Marquez or Dani Pedrosa.
Nine-time world champion Rossi re-signed for Yamaha at the Qatar season-opener, shortly after the Japanese factory announced a partnership with Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy.
Yamaha offered contract renewal to both the factory riders at the same time which was accepted by the Italian instantly while Lorenzo chose to wait.
Yamaha are yet to announce Lorenzo’s replacement and also admit that no one can instantly replicate Jorge Lorenzo.
