Fresh from the MotoGP paddock comes a whisper that sees Dani Pedrosa as one of the potential choices for Lin Jarvis and his Yamaha satellite team. Both Jarvis, on the official side, and Yamaha’s permanent riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales talked about this possibility, but things are still unclear.
Weeks ago, MotoGP star Dani Pedrosa and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced they were splitting up after no less than 18 years spent together. With Lorenzo taking Dani’s place at Repsol Honda and Danilo Petrucci filling in for the Mallorcan at Ducati, the premier class options for Pedrosa are somehow limited, some might say, but free satellite seats could be an interesting idea.
After the initial announcement was made, most people thought that Pedrosa, 32, would simply call it a day and retire from MotoGP, with his “best rider who never won a championship” aura trailing behind him. However, it appears that there is more to the Spaniard than meets the eye, especially as a new deal between Yamaha and Petronas is rumored.
Jarvis added once more that Tech 3 and Yamaha will also part ways, with Herve Poncharal’s team being KTM-bound and said that he has “always been curious” about having DP26 on a Iwata machine. “It would be a really positive thing and a pleasure for Yamaha to see that,” Jarvis added.
Rossi was happy to see that Dani’s press conference was not about quitting and said that he was glad to learn that he would still have one of his toughest, long-time rivals around for more battles on the track.
Vinales added that having Dani Pedrosa on a factory M1 could provide Yamaha with valuable insights and development options, given Pedrosa’s immense experience in road racing. MV25 also mentioned that the “bike isn’t where it should be,” a veiled allusion as to the team’s need to improve the performance of the 2018 YZR-M1.
Whether we get to see Dani’s famous 26 racing number on the hull of a satellite M1 at the post-race test in Valencia is anyone’s guess right now, but something tells us the Spaniard could indeed become Yamaha’s new star for the next season. What’s your take on this?
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