Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/346427
IN THE WIND P30 MOTOGP: NOW WHAT E ven before the halfway point of the season, two more major contracts have been con- firmed for MotoGP, with the break after Assen enlivened by successive announcements that both Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa had signed to stay with Yamaha and Honda respectively for two more years apiece. Rossi's deal was greeted with admiration not only for the con- tinuation of his fighting spirit but also because his run this season proves his ability has not faded either. "I am very proud to be ahead of Jorge [Lorenzo] in the cham- pionship, and proud about this contract with Yamaha," he said; adding that he hopes Lorenzo stays on as well. "It is always a great battle and a great motiva- tion. He always rides the bike to the limit." Pedrosa's retention by Honda raised some eyebrows, though nobody could deny that he is the top guy available at the mo- ment. As he said: "For Honda it is important to keep two strong riders." Teammate Marc Marquez praised Pedrosa's deep sensitiv- ity to the machine. "This helps with the evolution." This leaves only Lorenzo in limbo, reputed to be considering a big-money offer from Ducati, but saying at the Sachsenring: "I always say I want to finish my career with Yamaha." But while the company is seeking a two-year renewal, Lo- renzo favors a "one-plus-one" contract, with one-year firm, and the second subject to certain options and conditions. "We are still negotiating," he said. "Both would be good op- tions." But given his poor per- formances so far this season, "the results are not the best, so one-plus-one would be better for both to decide for the future." Michael Scott PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Will Jorge Lorenzo stay with Yamaha or make the move to Ducati. THROWBACK NINJA T o commemorate "the original spirit of the 1984 Ninja 900," which Kawasaki claims was the first fully faired superbike and sported the company's most powerful engine of its day, Ka- wasaki will be offering a Limited Edition 30th Anniversary 2015 ZX-14R ABS. Like the original Ninja 900, this ZX-14 is finished in the exact same shade of Firecracker Red and Metallic Graystone paint as the '84 Ninja and even has the same narrow Gold pinstriping. It also gets gold brake calipers and 30th Anniversary logos on the fairing sides. Only 300 of these LE models will be available for purchase in the USA and Latin American markets. (A separate edition of 30 motorcycles will also be pro- duced for the Canadian market.) continued on page 32