German MotoGP: Lorenzo and Yamaha - One or two years?
With Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa remaining at Repsol Honda for at least the next two years, Jorge Lorenzo looks set to join team-mate Valentino Rossi in agreeing a new Yamaha MotoGP contract.
But how long will that contract be for?
Two years is the usual length for a factory rider and if Lorenzo renews for just one season it will fuel speculation that he is seriously considering Ducati in 2016.
Next year will see the much anticipated Desmosedici redesign by new Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall'Igna, with whom Lorenzo won two 250GP titles as an Aprilia rider.
Lorenzo to Ducati rumours first emerged in the Spanish media during the winter, while the Spaniard made a surprise visit to the Ferrari F1 team earlier this week, located around half an hour from the Ducati headquarters in Bologna.
With this year's Ducati still off the pace under normal circumstances, despite enjoying the Open class benefits, a one-year Yamaha deal would allow Lorenzo to see the impact of Dall'Igna's changes before opting whether to take the biggest gamble of his career in 2016.
It would also help solve the salary issue, which Lorenzo has cited as the present obstacle to a new Yamaha contact.
Lorenzo's 2015 Yamaha pay is likely to suffer due to his current results, which is all the more reason to make it a short contract. A stronger start to next season would then put Lorenzo in a much better negotiating position - with Yamaha or Ducati - for 2016 and beyond.
Lorenzo has been a Yamaha rider since his 2008 MotoGP debut, winning two world championships. Last season Lorenzo became the first team-mate to beat a fully fit Rossi in the final standings, by a massive 93 points.
However, after finishing just four points behind title winner Marquez, Lorenzo has suffered a torrid first half of 2014, claiming just two podiums for fifth in the standings.
2016 will see a significant technical shake-up with Michelin replacing Bridgestone as exclusive tyre supplier and the introduction of a control ECU system. “I am very happy that we have concluded the agreement with Valentino for 2015 and 2016. Since his return to Yamaha in 2013 it’s been a very positive experience for everybody involved. After two difficult years ‘away from home’ Valentino returned last year, not only to us but also to his beloved YZR-M1. Fans of racing across the world were happy to see him rediscover his competitive performance and witness him take pleasure in riding and having fun again on two wheels. The “fun factor” is crucial to Valentino to get results – in fact when he first joined us in 2004 one of the most important motivations for his move to Yamaha was his desire to create an environment where he could enjoy racing. His enjoyment is obvious to all who meet him at the MotoGP events or who see him race on TV and is reflected in his excellent race results this year where he is currently in second position in the World Championship. We look forward to the next two and a half years together and it is our intention that Valentino will remain with Yamaha until the end of his sporting career and beyond.”
46 Valentino Rossi
“I am very happy to announce that I have signed a new contract with Yamaha to continue together in MotoGP for the next two years. I am very proud of this announcement. It’s very important to me because I really enjoy working with my crew and all the guys from the team, both the Japanese and European members that have been with me almost my entire career. It’s great because this was my target; I wanted to continue, I am feeling good and I’m motivated to keep giving my best. I am very happy that I can keep riding my YZR-M1, that has been my love for so many years and will still be my love this year and the following two seasons. A big 'Thank You' to everybody, I will try to keep giving the maximum to arrive in front and make good races. Enjoy!”