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Honda opens talks with Lorenzo as Pedrosa's 2019 replacement

Honda has begun talks with three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo as a potential replacement for the outgoing Dani Pedrosa for 2019, Autosport has learned.

The team announced on Tuesday that it would part ways with Pedrosa, who has raced for the Repsol-backed factory outfit since 2006, "by mutual consent" at the end of the current campaign.

It has now emerged that Honda is keen on placing Lorenzo alongside reigning champion Marc Marquez for 2019 - and that it has already held preliminary talks with the 31-year-old.

Lorenzo, who won MotoGP titles with Yamaha in 2010, '12 and '15, had struggled since joining Ducati last year, but took a breakthrough maiden win in dominant style last weekend at Mugello.

Shortly after his victory, Lorenzo told Spanish media: "My story with Ducati is over.

"A part of me is sad because I know that with this bike I could have fought to be world champion, which is why I came here. Now it's too late. There is nothing to be done."

When it became clear he could leave Ducati at the end of his current contract, Lorenzo emerged as a prime target for Suzuki but it has since elected to pursue Moto2 ace Joan Mir instead.

Consequently, Lorenzo has been working on a return to the Yamaha fold with what is believed to be a Petronas-backed satellite ride alongside current Marc VDS Honda rookie Franco Morbidelli.

This remains an option for Lorenzo - but should he elect to join forces with Honda, it would be logical that Pedrosa could end up on the satellite Yamaha instead.

In a separate statement following the announcement of his Honda departure, Pedrosa said further information on his future would be disclosed at MotoGP's next race weekend at Barcelona.

Honda signing Lorenzo would create a star-studded line-up for its works outfit, with the manufacturer having announced a new two-year contract for four-time champion and current points leader Marquez earlier this year.

Asked about the identity of his next team-mate during his Formula 1 test outing in Austria, Marquez - who has only raced alongside Pedrosa since joining MotoGP - said: "It's something that Honda is discussing, trying to find the best team-mate.

"At the moment I don't have the last news but I know that they were speaking with many many riders, as you know, as [previously] with [Johann] Zarco, [Andrea] Dovizioso.

"I think they will announce soon something. But I don't know, that's something that Honda needs to answer, I cannot say anything."

Zdroj: autosport.com