Lorenzo signs two-year extension with Yamaha

2010 champion to stay with Yamaha for 2013 and 2014 seasons

Posted: 12 June 2012
by Visordown News

YAMAHA has announced that Jorge Lorenzo has signed an extension to remain with the factory team for 2013 and 2014.

Lorenzo joined Yamaha in 2008 scoring an impressive fourth place in his first season to claim the Rookie of the Year award, he followed in 2009 with second position behind team-mate Valentino Rossi and then went on to be crowned MotoGP champion in 2010.

The Spaniard currently leads the 2012 championship by 20 points after three wins from the first five races. He said: “I am extremely happy to have signed with Yamaha for two more years. They’ve made great efforts to retain me in the factory team so I want to thank all those involved at Yamaha for this. I’ve been treated like part of the Yamaha family since 2008 and I love working with them. It has always been my first option to stay here and so I’m happy that this important negotiation has finished with such a positive outcome.

"Now I can focus on the Championship and I’m looking forward to paying back Yamaha’s trust in me starting at Silverstone this weekend. I look forward to winning many more Championships together; my dream to finish my career with Yamaha is now closer to becoming a reality!”

After Casey Stoner's sudden retirement announcement at Le Mans, Lorenzo was hot property on the riders market and one of the key riders being eyed up by Repsol Honda.

Alongside Stefan Bradl for LCR Honda and Bradley Smith at Tech 3 Yamaha, the Spaniard is one of a few riders to have a contract secured for next season.

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jorge lorenzo, yamaha, contract, two year, 2013, 2014, motogp

Discuss this story

Pagik

So much for the rumour mill about him going to HRC then. Come in Mark Marquez...your time is up....

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 09:20

evil ken evil

Pagik

It cant happen cos of the Rookie rule and Ezpaleta is Adam Ant its gonna stay.

Marquez will definitely be on a works machine next year but it wont be a Repsol one.

there's currently a lot of pressure to put Rossi back on a competitive ride as his performance at Le Mans had an affect with the fans and the press

so maybe we'll see Rossi on a Honda soon too, Honda are fast running out of options to put a race winner on a bike and Bautista and Bradle aren't performing in a way that screams factory rider

Moto GP is really missing Marco now ah ?

Time for Honda and Rossi to forgive and forget and let by gones be by gones.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 10:42

Pagik

Ken,

The reason I'm saying about Marquez to Respol is because HRC are applying a LOT of pressure to Dorna to get this rule reversed. I'd like to state now that I don't think it's a good thing. I don't agree with much Dorna do (in fact this is about the ONLY thing I do agree with). Nakamoto has stated that VR could have a customer Honda, but, would he want one? Just been chatting with a mate about the faffing that's going on at Ducati re the revised engine. Supposed to be used this weekend, but that doesn't look like it's happening. So I dunno what to think there..

I disagree with you about Bradl. I think he's doing really well. I'd certainly not be surprised if he got offered the Repsol ride, for a season.

Yes, it is missing Marco, dreadfully.

Either way, I'm looking forwards to sitting in the grandstands this weekend :D

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 11:03

evil ken evil

im with you on not agreeing with Dorna

but not when it comes to the rookie rule, i think it gives satelite teams a chance to shine and attract sponsors which is vital in these cash strapped times..

i dont think its gonna change ...and if marquez ends up with a factory bike...why does it need to ?

outside of rossi, bradl is repsols only real option but would you replace stoner with him ?

as for rossi on a customer honda ... money squarks so does LARGE sponsorship and Dorna pressure helps..i wouldnt be suprised in the least if that honda ended up being works spec

as for ducati ...whatever their doing ... it isnt fast enough and unless something radical happens i cant see rossi staying, hes not getting any younger and he wants another title, its fairly obvious the engine lay out needs to go but there sticking to their guns ...good luck to em but unless they change Ducatis brand in motogp will take a further pounding as whos going to want to ride that bike?

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 12:06

Fred Santos

i want to see Crutchlow on Repsol Honda.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 12:40

evil ken evil

i want to see Crutchlow on a works Yamaha

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 13:02

fluke

Lorenzo aside, it grates my balls that Bradley Smith has a guaranteed ride in Moto GP next year. He has never had fantastic results, and his results in Moto 2 are definitely not worthy of promotion.

Because of this move, we may see the loss of Dovi or Cal, just to allow smith to run around at the back with the CRT's.

Politics huh?

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 13:35

Pagik

Yeah Ken, I wanna see Crutchlow on a works Yamaha too. With regards to the whole Bradley thing. I honestly don't think it's Bradley, I think it's the bike. It's simply not quick enough.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 14:12

Marzer

I've always been a fan of Spies BUT, its very obvious Crutchlow deserves the factory Yamaha. He's giving it everything on the Tech 3 and he appreciates the chance he's been given so i'm hoping he'll get it. Rossi on a customer Honda? Any bike Rossi gets wont stay standard for too long.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 14:19

pushkar bhatt

I don't think sponsors would be eager to sign on marquez if he is on a satellite bike just for a season. A long term partnership is what they would be looking forward and that would be Repsol Honda.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 14:44

Pagik

Marquez has a sponsorship deal with Respol, and Bankia (if memory serves) hence what all this fuss is about in the first place....

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 14:50

Pagik

As usual, I've not read this all correctly. Bradl has a dal with LCR already, but, would Lucio do as he was told by HRC should the need arise. If so, I could see Marquez doing a year on that one.....

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 14:59

Fred Santos

Who left for Repsol Honda Factory?
Stefan Bradl? Randy dePuniet? Alvaro Bautista?

Maybe Dovi back... 2013 pre-season will be.... curious.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 15:27

Szmolo

Marquez will go to the Repsol team in 2013 and the rookie rule will be scrapped. From what I have read the satellite teams don't like the rule as the factory guys force them to sign a rider, who have have to pay a factory wage, and supply them with all the factory toys, only to see them bugger off after 1 year. Tech 3, LCR and Gresini have all said they would like to see the rule go, Yamaha and Ducati have also agreed.

As for Crutchlow, I think he has been doing well, but take into account that Spies is A. having a terrible run of luck this year so far B. Will attract far more buyers in the all important USA and C. He is a very good spokes-person for a team.

Crutchlow ruffled a few feathers whilst in WSS, saying that what Spies was doing wasn't a big deal and that he would have matched his results on that bike, which he obviously didn't.

Crutchlow is doing well, but not as well as Spies was in his 2nd year. Also he is not able to get away from Dovi, who with a factory bike didn't do a great deal. The way I see it he will have to comfortably beat Dovi before he is considered.

I agree with the others on Bradley Smith, his bike is way, way down on top speed compared to the other Moto2 bikes. He has a lot of skill but I'm not certain he has that 'racer' mentality and aggression.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 17:16

fluke

Szmolo,

have to disagree with your Dovi comments. Last year he was 3rd in C'ship, behind Jorge and Moaner. He beat Pedrosa who still retained the factory ride - once again due to politics and the ever present Repsol, a Spanish Company.

Agree with the rest of your sentiments though

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 18:47

sav man

Dovi, is stong atm Lorenzo is staying put ,Cruchlow needs a quicker bike ,Pedrosa seems to run out of steam ,Spies is having some issues just maybe Yamaha will be looking for a brickie to put the wall back in the garage! And yeah I"m missing Marco,a bit of non-conformity might do the sport some good!!

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 22:44

Anthony DeVincenzo

My take on it goes like this:

The second Yamaha seat is really the one up for grabs. Ben is having a really crappy season. If he doesn't turn it up Yamaha is going to give his seat up to someone else. This will be either Crutch or Dovi depending on who finishes higher in the championship at the end of the year.

If Ben gets the boot from Yamaha, Honda will pick him up to ride next to Pedrosa.

Rossi wont ride with Lorenzo so scrap him on a Yamaha. The rumors of him on his own ride, I can see that. He can pull enough sponsorship money to make a team with his rep. He will also lease a full factory bike from what ever company he decides to ride with. It won't be a Ducati.

Marquez will be on a satellite team when he comes to GP. $20 US says when he comes up it will be on a satellite ride.

Posted: 12/06/2012 at 23:30

Szmolo

Fluke - I feel I may have been a bit harsh on Dovi, but I wonder if he would have finished above Pedrosa had it not been for his collar bone injury at Le Man.

You make a good point with Repsol pushing Spanish riders into the team, they have Marquez in Moto2 and Vinales in Moto3. I see a stepping stone here; next year everyone moves up a spot, giving Pedrosa one more year to prove himself, which if he doesn't Vinales who will now be in Moto2 will gethis ride and Repsol have their fairytale Spanish dream team.

Anthony - Personally, I very much doubt Yamaha will let Spies go after just one season so far of bad luck. He has helped put them on the map in WSB, and has increased their presence in the USA. I feel he is too important to let go after just a few bad races, especially considering his track record of record breaking.

I also doubt Rossi will move from Ducati, he has too much to prove to just chuck it all in and run his own team.

I'll happily take your bet on Marquez though :)

Posted: 13/06/2012 at 01:46

evil ken evil

Honda have already stated they dont want 2 spanish riders in the Repsol squad

Honda need to replace Stoner with a proven winner, personal favourites aside, if you were honda would you replace stoner with spies ?

as for yamaha loyalty to spies, judging from there track record, theyve never been to bothered before about loyalty

spies needs to get it together and fast, make no mistake, the quality of cal and dovi at the moment make this even more apparent, after all when spies was on form dovi usually beat him anyway, remember dovi finished 3rd in the championship.

Bradley smith is arriving from moto2 so thats a seat for next yrs tech3 (waste of time IMO) already gone, yamaha has 2 real talents on their hands who are chompin at the bit for bens ride

i think ben will be on a customer honda next year

Honda have said "Rossi unlikely but never say never" that to me says ...its an option were willing to explore

Posted: 13/06/2012 at 09:00

russ atkins

I think it'll be:

Yam Factory: Lorenzo
Yam Factory: Dovi/Crutchlow - whoever finishes higher
Tech 3: Spies
Tech 3: Bradley Smith
Honda Factory: Pedrosa
Honda Factory: Bradl
Honda LCR: Dovi/Crutchlow - whoever finishes lower
Ducati: Rossi
Ducati: Hayden

but what do I know - I work in an office :/

Posted: 13/06/2012 at 12:52

pyndman

Rossi should get the repsol ride for sure, one season contract, it'd be a mad media rush money maker, I reckon they might do it with Jorge at Yamaha now. Rossi is done at Ducati, guaranteed. Dorna want Rossi on a good bike for at least some great podium battles during the season. they need excitement for the entertainment factor and Rossi is the only one who can provide it, so they'll push for it I reckon. Not that he'd win the championsip, but he'd entertain guaranteed.

Posted: 14/06/2012 at 02:47

Talkback: Lorenzo signs two-year extension with Yamaha