Three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo says he is not retiring from the sport following difficult year and a half with Ducati. The Spaniard made a high-profile switch from Yamaha to Ducati in 2017, but is yet to win a race abode the Desmosedici.
He took three podiums last year to finish a modest seventh, while sits only 14th this season after five races with a best finish of sixth so far. The lack of results has certainly strained the relations between the rider and the manufacturer.
So much so, both the rider and the team are not backing out from taking a dig at each other in public statements. More and more it looks like Lorenzo will bow out of the team which has already re-signed Andrea Dovizioso.
Speaking to MotoGP.com, Lorenzo revealed that his MotoGP future his secured for at least two more seasons, but ruled out naming the team. “It doesn’t have to be like that, my value is always high because of what I did in the past,” he said on his chances.
“What I must say is that I will be competing in MotoGP in the next two years, I will not retire and it will be with a good bike, that is all I can say about my future.” Surprisingly, a return to Yamaha is doing rounds in the paddock.
With Johann Zarco moving to rivals KTM in 2019 and Tech 3 switching to the Austrian manufacturer’s bike from Yamaha, the Japanese manufacturer thus far has only two bikes on the grid next season.
This sparked a speculation that Yamaha may field a third bike to accommodate Lorenzo, a move which was welcomed by both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales as they felt it will help the Japanese manufacturer to recover from the recent slump.
When asked Lorenzo further on a possible Yamaha return and the team he will be racing for, the Spaniard said that he may be able to reveal more on his future in the next MotoGP round in Catalunya.
