MotoGP: It’s Confirmed — Lorenzo is going to Ducati
Rennie Scaysbrook | April 18, 2016
MotoGP’s worst kept secret was confirmed on Monday, April 18, as Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha announced they were parting ways after nine seasons and three world titles, with the Spaniard signing for Ducati for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
The deal – rumored to be worth one of the largest sums in MotoGP history – will see either Andrea Dovizioso or Andrea Iannone making way for the five-time world champion as Ducati aims to end a losing streak that extends back to the Australian Grand Prix of 2010 with Casey Stoner.
Just who will replace Lorenzo at Movistar Yamaha is yet to be confirmed, but all eyes are currently on young Spanish hotshot and former Moto3 World Champion Maverick Vinales, who has been ultra impressive so far in his second season of MotoGP competition for the factory Ecstar Suzuki team. Should he make the switch to Yamaha, it could work out nicely for Iannone, who is already believed to have an offer on the table to join Suzuki for the 2017 season.
Lorenzo’s move to the factory Ducati team gives the Spaniard a chance to rejoin his partner from his Aprilia days in Gigi Dall’Igna, now in charge at Ducati and the designer of the current GP16 that has seen the red machine return to the pointy end of the MotoGP grid, albeit without a win so far. Lorenzo will also have the opportunity to join some of the all-time greats who have won either 500cc or MotoGP world championships with two different brands. Lorenzo has already won two 250cc world titles with Aprilia and three MotoGP crowns with Yamaha, and could join the likes of Valentino Rossi (Honda/Yamaha), Eddie Lawson (Yamaha/Honda), Casey Stoner (Ducati/Honda) and Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta/Yamaha) as a two-brand winner.