but the story gathered its own momentum over race weekend in spite of direct denials, and on Friday a major Spanish newspaper reported that the deal had been done. Informed opinion, however, thought this premature – and that the rumours had begun largely as a way for Yamaha’s Spanish sponsors Movistar to put pressure on their real candidate, Maverick Viñales, to drop excessive financial demands, and to get on with making up his mind.
To outsiders, it remains obvious that Viñales (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 mad to turn down a chance on the best bike of the moment, alongside a teammate like Valentino.
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 Viñales, 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, without any sense of urgency at this early stage of the season.
Suppo admitted to me, however, that “strangely, Dani has more options than Márquez … Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki …”
It all hinges on Viñales, 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.”
Pedrosa’s potential move, after an entire 16-year GP career with Honda including 11 years in the factory MotoGP team, does make sense, for several reasons.
Dovizioso’s manager Simone Battistella, a respected paddock figure, summed it up.
“The logic is good,” he told me. Not only would the Yamaha suit the Spanish rider’s smooth style, but it would improve his overall chances compared with a Honda RC211V where development is increasingly focused on the much more aggressive Marquez. At the same time, the two veterans would make easier bed-fellows than Rossi and Lorenzo; and while Yamaha might be expected to prefer a younger rider, “when either retires they can have their pick”. There are also sound commercial reasons. Yamaha sponsors Movistar, a Spanish telecommunications giant, were dismayed at the departure of Lorenzo, and are pressing Yamaha hard to hire another Spaniard.
Pedrosa himself turned direct questions aside. “I have answered a lot about that situation this weekend,” he said. “As to what will happen and when, I really don’t know.”
Viñales was in the same position. Suzuki are anxious to keep him on board, and are thought to have made a more generous financial offer than Yamaha to entice him to stay. He would also be effectively the team’s number one rider; while the bike is already close to being fully competitive, and could make more progress in 2017.
