Lorenzo Re-signs With Yamaha

I am very happy! says Lorenzo. Today is a good day because I have decided to remain with the Yamaha Factory Team in 2010. It was a very important decision and thats why I have had to take the last few weeks to make it, but I think that this is the best decision for me in this moment. I want to thank Yamaha because they have always done everything that they have promised, and I especially would like to say thank you to Lin Jarvis and Masao Furusawa.

The 2008 MotoGP Rookie of the Year currently sits second in the championship behind teammate Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo was reportedly considering an offer from the Ducati Marlboro team and had also drawn interest from Repsol Honda, before deciding to remain with Fiat Yamaha and race alongside Rossi.

We are obviously delighted that Jorge has decided to stay at Yamaha for the next season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come, says Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing. Jorge has shown his talent, his ability to learn and to compete at the highest level with many excellent performances in 2008 and 2009. We have no doubt that he has the ability and drive to become MotoGP World Champion and we are proud that he has decided to remain with Yamaha, despite having received some very serious approaches from some of our competitors. This timely decision now allows us to focus on the present championship, where our riders are currently first and second, and to make definitive plans for our 2010 MotoGP program.

As far as who will be riding for whom next year, let the games begin. With four new riders already announced (Alvaro Bautista, Marco Simoncelli, and Hector Barbera moving up, and Melandri moving over to Honda Gresini), and several more in hot water with their owners (Toseland, Canepa and Hayden to name a few), wholesale changes to next years grid appear to be in the works. Lorenzos signing with Fiat Yamaha does little to change this, other than giving Hayden some breathing room and Stoner a little added leverage. And although we are not betting people, we would gladly bet our house that a Fiat Yamaha rider will win the MotoGP championship in 2010.

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