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/677616
IN THE WIND P34 PEDROSA TO YAMAHA?! IT COULD JUST HAPPEN D ani Pedrosa to leave Honda and join Valentino Rossi at Movistar Yamaha? Many scoffed when Span- ish whispers suggested this move during the week before the French GP, but the story gathered its own momentum over race weekend in spite of direct denials. On Friday, May 6, a major Spanish newspaper re- ported that the deal had been done. Informed opinion, however, thought this pre- mature, and that the rumors had begun largely as a way for Yamaha's Spanish sponsors Movistar to put pressure on their real candidate, Maverick Vinales, to drop excessive financial demands and to get on with making up his mind. To outsiders, it remains obvious that Vinales (21) would be the ideal candidate to replace Ducati- bound Jorge Lorenzo, offering Yamaha a future that 30-year-old Pedrosa could not, and that he would be crazy to turn down a chance on the best bike of the moment, alongside a teammate like Rossi. Both Honda and Yamaha denied that any decisions had been made, but Yamaha team chief Massimo Meregalli acknowledged that there was one other candidate as well as Vinales, though declining to confirm it was Pedrosa. Likewise, Honda's Livio Suppo insisted that they expected to keep Pedrosa and that negotiations were proceeding normally, with- out any sense of urgency at this early stage of the season. Suppo admitted to Cycle News, however, that "strangely, Dani has more options than Marquez— Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki…" It all hinges on Vinales, who said he had not yet made up his mind, but that "I don't think it will take too long. We all want to decide soon." Michael Scott Dani Pedrosa may have stolen the Movistar Yamaha ride from right under Vinales' nose, if Spanish media reports are to be believed. PREMIUM REPSOL SEAT UP FOR GRABS T he possible move of Dani Pe- drosa to Yamaha means there could be a vacant seat at the factory Repsol Honda team, an enticing tar- get for all riders, with current satellite Honda riders Briton Cal Crutchlow and Australian Jack Miller merely two potential candidates. Another is the fancied Alex Rins. Should a Suzuki seat become available, there are many to choose from, including Rins again and Moto2 Champion Johann Zarco, as well as either of the current Aprilia riders Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista. One question was answered at Le Mans on Thursday, May 5, with the announcement that 125, Moto3 and Moto2 race winner Jonas Folger will join the Tech 3 satellite Yamaha team, to take the place of KTM-bound Brad- ley Smith. "To go to MotoGP is a dream for every rider," said the 22-year-old Ger- man. Second Tech 3 rider Pol Espargaro is also expected to be moving on, and current Moto2 star Alex Rins has long been linked with a Yamaha move. But there are many other possibilities, and a lot of time before decisions need to be made. Michael Scott If Pedrosa goes, who gets the orange? Jack Miller, Cal Crutchow and Alex Rins (pictured) are all candidates.