The Honda MotoGP team has officially announced they will part ways with Dani Pedrosa at the end of 2018, after an 18 year partnership through all three Grand Prix classes.
Rumours have been circulating all season about a potential replacement for the 32 year old as has struggled for form so far during 2018, the Spaniard failing to score a podium so far this year, currently sitting only 12th in the standings on just 29 points.
His team-mate Marc Marquez meanwhile currently leads the standings, while also scoring three wins from the six races so far contested in 2018.
Yoshishige Nomura, HRC President, said, “Today is a sad day for me. 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.”
“I want to thank HRC for all these years of great success,” said Pedrosa.
“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.”
Pedrosa has racked up 31 victories and 112 podiums in his time with Honda in MotoGP, while he has managed to secure the championship runner-up position three times.
Current Moto2 rider Joan Mir has been heavily linked to Honda in recent weeks, although it is thought he will now sign with Suzuki for 2019 after HRC allowed his alleged pre-contract to lapse at the end of May.
Jorge Lorenzo could be a possible target for Honda if the Mallorcan decides to walk away from Ducati, although a return to the Yamaha fold is thought to be Lorenzo’s preferred option.
Current satellite riders Cal Crutchlow and Takaaki Nakagami are also in the frame to take over from Pedrosa in 2019.
