Jorge Lorenzo has quashed speculation he will not be on the 2019 MotoGP grid by confirming he will be competing “for the next two years”, though remained coy over his potential destination.
The triple MotoGP champion's tenure at Ducati looks set to end after the current season, the Spaniard having struggled to produce the results expected by the manufacturer, having failed to add to his 2017 tally of three podiums.
With the hotly-tipped rumour of Joan Mir signing for Suzuki – which has only been heightened now Andrea Iannone has announced he will not be on a GSX-RR next year – Lorenzo's factory options look to have vanished, with the remaining works Honda set to be retained by Dani Pedrosa and the second Aprilia earmarked for Iannone or Danilo Petrucci.
Lorenzo now looks poised to return to Yamaha on satellite machinery with whichever team takes the M1s that will be vacated by the KTM-bound Tech3 team; current Honda customers Marc VDS are favourites – though recent internal troubles could foil this.
Speaking to motogp.com, Lorenzo confirmed he will “be with a good bike” next season, and hints at clarity on his future by his home round in Barcelona next month.
“My value is always high for what I did in the past, so what I have to say is that I will be competing in MotoGP for the next two years, I will not retire, and it will be with a good bike,” Lorenzo, who is 14th in the standings, said.
“That is all I can say about my future. The result from this weekend, yes, of course I would like to be on the podium and fight for the victory.
“But if it doesn't happen, the future will be more or less the same. The press must write [about my future], but at the moment I can just say that I will be competing in MotoGP.
“Maybe in Montmelo you will have more information.”
Rossi: Lorenzo Yamaha return no problem
Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi endured a famously fractious relationship during their seven years as team-mates, from 2008 to 2010 and 2013 to 2016.
Rossi admits Lorenzo being on a satellite M1 could end up producing similar results to those currently achieved by Tech3's Johann Zarco, but sees Lorenzo's possible return acting as “better motivation" for the veteran Italian.
“I was already with Jorge for a long time, he's a great, great rider, he's able to ride the Yamaha very fast,” Rossi said.
“I think it will be hard if Lorenzo comes back, but I think the situation will be very similar to this year, because this year we have Zarco very, very strong [on a satellite Yamaha].
“So when you are on a Yamaha, you always have a great team-mate or fast rider with the same bike.
“So under one point, it's more difficult, but it's also good because you have better motivation and you can see also the way of how other riders ride the bike and you can learn and improve.”
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