Dani Pedrosa’s Partnership With Repsol Honda Comes To An End

An official statement from the Honda  factory racing team confirmed that Dani Pedrosa will depart at the end of the 2018 season. The veteran rider has had an amazing run with the Japanese manufacturer, with 31 victories to his name and a runner-up on three different occasions in the MotoGP championship.

Lately though, Pedrosa has been struggling and has yet to score a podium finish in 2018, while his teammate leads the championship. Moreover, his career has been plagued with injuries and subsequent surgeries, with the ongoing season being one of his worst starts till date. We’re speculating that Pedrosa’s lack of results has led to this decision; however, the company clearly states that the partnership will end on mutual consent.

In the light of recent event, the Spaniard had this to say: "I want to thank HRC for all these years of great success. 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."

The news opens up the market for a replacement rider, with a number of names in the limelight. The most obvious choice would have been Johann Zarco and Moto2's Joan Mir. However, with Zarco electing to ride with KTM next season and Joan Mir likely to join Suzuki, there’s no clear alternative to take the seat alongside Marquez. Jorge Lorenzo maybe? We’ll have to wait and watch.