Dani Pedrosa has revealed he knew he would be leaving Honda at the end of the 2018 MotoGP season “two years ago”, as he prepares to end an 18-year association with HRC.
Honda announced last week it would be parting ways with Pedrosa by “mutual agreement”, and will replace him with outgoing Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo.
Pedrosa's place within Honda was uncertain as it made a play to secure Johann Zarco and Joan Mir before they signed to KTM and Suzuki respectively, though he admits the team knew “more or less” he would be leaving at the end of the current deal he signed in 2016.
“As they [the team] know, already two years ago [after talks] with the previous people in the team, they know, I said to them more or less this would happen,” Pedrosa said on Thursday in Barcelona.
“So in the end it was a mutual thing, and it's just of course you realise especially more when it comes to the reality, but more or less it was already spoken [about] before.
“It's me, myself [that made the decision]. I need to look for new things, and I think it was a good moment to start watching what you can do next.
“So, that's it. It's quite simple, it's not as complicated as you might try to believe. Of course, two years ago is a long time ago, but it started two years ago.”
Pedrosa has been linked with a switch to the Petronas-backed Yamaha team originally thought to be receiving Lorenzo, though retirement has also been rumoured as an option.
The 32-year-old confirmed he has 'several good options', and that he had hoped to have his future secured prior to this weekend's Catalan Grand Prix, but remained tightlipped when pressed on his plans.
“I'm sorry that everybody is here, because I expected I could say something more clear, it was my wish,” he said.
“Unfortunately, things still aren't as clear as I would like, and I can't really say something very clear.
“Only I can say today is that I have several options that are good options, but still it's not so clear. So I cannot say much more than this.
“I need time to think about them, and I wil not rush to make the wrong decision. I would like to have it clear because this would allow me to race with more free mind and more focus on the GP.
“But today, the situation is still this one and I guess in the future days I can know more things.
“I cannot speak about the options, I can only say there are options and I am still considering.”
