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/993191
IN THE WIND P50 DANI PEDROSA AND REPSOL HONDA TO PART COMPANY D ani Pedrosa and the Repsol Honda team will end their col- laboration at the end of the 2018 MotoGP season. Pedrosa has raced for Repsol Honda since his rookie year in the MotoGP World Championship of 2006. He has finished runner- up in the title chase three times and scored 31 race victories. Pedrosa also captured one 125cc and two 250cc World Championship victories with HRC before entering MotoGP. "I want to thank HRC for all these years of great success," said Pedrosa in a statement. "I have grown not only as a rider but also as a person with them. I will always have HRC in my memories and in my heart. In life, we all need new challenges and I feel it's time for a change. Thanks, HRC." HRC marked the occasion with a comment from their President, Yoshishige Nomura, who is not normally quoted in press releas- es; such is the esteem in which Honda holds Pedrosa. "Today is a sad day for me," Nomura said. "On behalf of HRC, I want to thank Dani for all his hard and successful work, and to express our gratitude for these two decades together. We also wish him the very best of luck and success. Thanks, Dani." At this stage, it is unclear if Pedrosa will continue in MotoGP or retire. "After announcing that my relationship with HRC will be over at the end of the season, I'd like to affirm that I will be providing more information about my future at the Catalan GP," said Pedrosa. "Once again, I'd like to express my deep thanks to HRC for all these years of personal and pro- fessional success with them, and for having always respected my priorities and decisions. "We have both gained a lot from one of the most fruitful work- ing relationships in the MotoGP paddock. CN Dani Pedrosa is out of Repsol Honda, marking the end of an era in MotoGP. IANNONE OFF TO APRILIA A ndrea Iannone will move to Aprilia for the next two MotoGP seasons to partner Spaniard Aleix Espargaro. Iannone will thus replace Briton Scott Redding in the Fausto Gresini-run organization, and it will be the third manufacturer he has competed for in MotoGP after stints with Ducati and most recently, Suzuki. "The combination of Iannone and Aprilia will be fantastic—one of the most interesting in MotoGP—and it has the potential to bring great results," said team manager, Fausto Gresini. "Andrea is a strong, fast and concrete rider. I think that he will be able to provide great support for the team and contribute to the development of the bike. And there is no denying that it is always a pleasure to have an Italian rider on an Italian bike." CN Andrea Iannone is back on an Italian bike for the next two years, but it's not Ducati, it's Aprilia.