VOL. 51 ISSUE 28 JULY 15, 2014 P23
PEDROSA INKS
HONDA DEAL
T
he second portion of the MotoGP silly season
has come to a close with Honda's announce-
ment on July 9 that Dani Pedrosa had inked a
two-year deal to remain as Marc Marquez's team-
mate on the Repsol Honda squad. Thus the Rep-
sol Honda team will remain as is to the end of the
2016 season.
With Valentino Rossi having re-upped with Ya-
maha two weeks ago, three of the top four fac-
tory rides are spoken for. With Pedrosa re-signing
with Honda, Jorge Lorenzo's options have gotten
much smaller and it's likely that he'll end up return-
ing with the Movistar Yamaha team.
Pedrosa is currently tied for second in the 2014
MotoGP World Championship with Rossi as the
season reaches its halfway point. With his con-
tract in hand, Pedrosa will continue with the team
he has been with throughout his Grand Prix ca-
reer. The Spaniard won three World Champion-
ships (one in 125cc and the other two in 250cc)
before making his MotoGP debut in 2006 with the
Repsol Honda team. He has finished second in
the premiere class championship three times, but
has yet to earn the title.
"I'm very happy to be able to announce my re-
newal with the Repsol Honda Team, and grateful to
Honda for the trust they have shown in me for a fur-
ther two years," Pedrosa said in a team release. "It's
the best way for me to continue in my racing career,
together with the company I was with in my very first
race. I am very excited to give my 100 percent and
continue to work together with everyone at Honda
Racing Corporation."
Prior to signing his new deal, Pedrosa was one of
several riders in discussion with Suzuki about join-
ing its MotoGP team when the company returns to
the series next year.
The other team with question marks is Ducati as
both its riders, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso,
have yet to make decisions on next year and both
have had discussions with Suzuki.
Briefly...
A Night With Sykes
Kawasaki will host Ninja
Bike Night at its head-
quarters in Irvine, Cali-
fornia, on Thursday, July
17 from 5 to 8 p.m. with
World Superbike Cham-
pion Tom Sykes set to
be the guest of honor. Ka-
wasaki owners can also
enter their Ninjas in a Bike
Show with the chance to
win Ninja Sportbike Best
In Show awards.
Marquez For
Indy Mile!
MotoGP World Champion
Marc Márquez will serve
as Grand Marshal of the
2014 Indy Mile, which re-
turns to the Indiana State
Fairgrounds on Friday,
August 8. Márquez, who
has won all nine Mo-
toGPs this season, took
on AMA Grand National
Champion Brad Baker in
the Superprestigio event
in Barcelona, Spain dur-
ing the off-season. Baker
won the event, but the two
became friends and they
will both participate in a
special champions ques-
tion-and-answer session
before the crowd during
opening ceremonies of
the 2014 Indy Mile. "I am
so excited about this op-
portunity," Márquez said.
"I love dirt track, and it will
be my second time watch-
ing it on the circuit. I'm
looking forward to being
there with all of the Ameri-
can fans during the Indy
GP." The Indy Mile will
be held from 2 p.m. to 10
p.m. on Friday, August 8.
For more information, visit
www.IndyMile.com.
Dani Pedrosa isn't going anywhere after
re-signing with the Repsol Honda team for
another two years.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
