Michael Scott | May 23, 2016
No more waiting, as a flurry of announcements at Mugello confirmed most of the important rider contracts for 2017 – an unprecedentedly early resolution after Lorenzo’s switch to Ducati triggered an equally record early start to the so-called Silly Season.
Things started to fall into place when Maverick Vinales finally made “the most difficult phone call of my life” to tell Suzuki team chief Davide Brivio that he had decided to take Yamaha’s offer.
The 21-year-old Spaniard will thus replace Lorenzo alongside Rossi at Movistar Yamaha, fulfilling the sponsor’s desire for a Spanish rider, and also team chief Lin Jarvis’s “first choice” to replace the departing Lorenzo.
“I was very excited after my first podium in France, but finally I decided to move,” said Vinales. It was very important for his career, he said, “and I think I will grow up a bit;” adding his gratitude to Suzuki. “They trusted me a lot and tried to give me a good bike,” he said. There had been many positives and negatives, “but finally I could decide quite fast after Le Mans.
This was the key decision, but the first announcement, last Monday, was from Repsol Honda, confirming that Dani Pedrosa had been signed for a further two years, which will bring his factory-team tenure to 13 years. This finally laid to rest the slightly implausible (but actually not unfounded) Le Mans rumour that the 30-year-old veteran was to move to Yamaha.
“It’s been a long, long career, and I am happy to stay,” he said. “The history is important, giving stability.”
The sequence of events went like this:
- Monday – Honda announced two more years with Pedrosa
- Tuesday – Ducati likewise confirmed that they will retain Andrea Dovizioso until 2018, alongside Jorge Lorenzo/
- Thursday – two announcements from Suzuki: first that Vinales was to leave, and second that he would be replace by Andrea Iannone, dumped by Ducati.
- Thursday – Yamaha announced the signing of Maverick Vinales.
Only one major rider remains to be settled: Marc Marquez has yet to renew his contract with HRC. However, there can be little doubt that this will take place, not least because no worthwhile factory seats remain available.
Ducati’s decision to drop Iannone came unexpectedly early: most had expected the Italian factory to spin the matter out before deciding between their two Andreas.
Dovizioso is possibly a better fit with Lorenzo, with the Spaniard noting “he is very logical and good at testing – but Iannone would also be good – very fast, with a similar riding style.”
But Iannone revealed that he had been offered a renewal much earlier in the season. “I had the possibility to stay, but some parts of the contract did not satisfy me 100 percent. I wanted some changes, but it was not possible. Now I have a good opportunity with Suzuki.”
One advantage he said was that he would be the number one rider with a full factory team, which would not have been the case with Lorenzo at Ducati.
But he had kind words for the Borgo Panigale company, which took him from a satellite to the factory team last year. “Ducati supported me from the beginning, from 2013; so thanks a lot for everything.”
Footnote: With a point to prove, Iannone dominated free practice and claimed a front-row start; while team-mate Dovizioso had a nightmare couple of days after an old neck injury recurred, making it difficult to turn his head, and condemning him to take part in the “junior” Q1, where he was unable to make it through to Q2.
Iannone beat Dovi in the race, too.
Vinales had always been Yamaha’s first choice to replace Lorenzo alongside Rossi, “but there was only one rider in the paddock we did not consider, for obvious reasons … Marc Marquez.”
So said Yamaha Racing chief Lin Jarvis; adding “it is important to have a team that is well-balanced and also highly competitive.”
Asked about some alternatives by name, he responded: “I never considered Alex Rins.” The rising Spaniard, he said, had “expressed a desire to join a factory team. Our Tech 3 team bikes are very close to factory spec, and Rins would be most welcome in that team. He is a very interesting rider.”
As for current Tech 3 satellite rider Pol Espargaro, he had not been on the short list. “His performance … has not been consistent or of a high enough level. The bike he has now is capable of better results.” But the younger Espargaro brother would have a place on offer for next year at the same team.
For the second tier of riders and teams, however, there is much yet to be settled.
There are seconds seats going at Suzuki and KTM alongside Iannone and Bradley Smith respectively; and at Aprilia, where Sam Lowes is earmarked to move up to the team.
Current Suzuki Aleix Espargaro said “I think I deserve more respect” after having played a major role in the factory’s return to MotoGP, now in its second year. “I knew about Vinales [leaving], but nothing about Iannone,” he said.
Suzuki had not spoken to him yet about any prospects for renewal, he said; while reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco is a threat to his future. The French rider is to test the MotoGP bike in Japan later this season, and will ride for Suzuki in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours race.
Team boss Davide Brivio confirmed “we have an option on Zarco for next year”, and said “we are talking to Aleix’s manager, but there is no decision yet.”
Brivio poured cold water on rumours that Suzuki would be supplying satellite team bikes next season. “It is something Suzuki wants to do and we have had discussions at the factory … but it looks like it would be difficult for 2017,” he said.