CONFIRMED: LORENZO TO DUCATI
M
otoGP'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 Span-
iard signing with 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 Aus-
tralian 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, 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. CN
IN
THE
WIND
P24
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
Can Lorenzo
tame the bike
that's destroyed
so many others?
The big, big, big
(undisclosed, at
this point) money
says he can.
