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Dani Pedrosa Already at Yamaha, Spanish Media Believes

Still a Repsol Honda rider, at least until the final round at Valencia, Dani Pedrosa is tipped by certain Spanish publications as having already struck a deal with Movistar Yamaha. However, until credible, official information surfaces, we're taking this with a large grain of salt and carefully place it in the drawer bearing the "Rumors" label. Still...
Dani Pedrosa wallpaper 1 photo
Photo: wallpapersxl.com
Many rumors have been circling the MotoGP paddock since the start of the season, with the whole turmoil starting after Yamaha and Valentino Rossi announced they would be together for 2017 ad 2018. Later, Bradley Smith announced he and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 would part ways and the Brit was to become the first KTM factory rider confirmed for 2017.

Then, in the middle of the entire mess, Lorenzo admitted to having signed with Ducati for the next two seasons, and everything went crazy. Since then, the rumor mill started spinning faster and faster and the many unknowns and all the secrets kept tight by teams, riders, and their managers only made things crazier.

There are some aspects of such rumors that add a dash of credibility to them, and even Valentino Rossi has something to do with them. In a press conference at Le Mans, someone asked The Doctor about who he believes will be his teammate.

Rossi dodged the question replying that for him, this aspect was of a lesser importance, as he is focusing on the championship, but... that he knows that Movistar, Yamaha's title sponsor, is quite keen on having a Spanish rider in the team.

Some might say that his answer only adds fuel to the fire, and they might be right about this. Both Vinales and Pedrosa are Spaniards, so theoretically, Movistar would be okay with them

However, it looks like Yamaha is not willing to pay 5 million Euro for Vinales, the paycheck Suzuki is rumored to have put on Maverick's desk near the Hamamatsu contract. This info still needs verification so, please remember that we're dealing with half-truths and rumors here.

El Pais and MCN are also crediting Pedrosa as being the next teammate of Rossi, and it looks like Cadena SER, a Catalan radio station, had Spanish journalist Nadia Tronchoni on air, revealing that the announcement will arrive at Mugello.

The name of Dani Pedrosa appeared only recently in the entire Yamaha debate, but this is very significant. Movistar was the sponsor of Honda's 125cc and 250cc teams when Pedrosa won three world titles (125cc in 2003 and 350cc in 2004 and 2005), and when Dani took the step to MotoGP with Repsol Honda, Movistar considered him as one of the greatest assets they had lost.

Therefore, you see, having him back in the boat is one of the moves Movistar would most likely love to see happening, and it looks like Yamaha sees Pedrosa with better chances on the track than Vinales, especially as he would be riding one of the best machines in MotoGP.

Of course, should Pedrosa put an end to his relationship with Honda, which lasts since 2006, Yamaha should start headhunting for a new duo of young guns.

At the end of 2017, Rossi is credited to retire from the premier class, even though with a rider like him, we'd rather put our money on "never say never." And if Pedrosa is not able to win a title or at least be as close as possible to this, it's doubtful that Yamaha will retain him. Still, until the end of the 2017 season, we don't even have a clear image of what the 2016 grid might look like, so we'll just grab a beer and wait.
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