Barcelona, Spain - Double MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has extended his contract with Honda for two more years.
Honda Racing Corporation executive vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto said on Thursday: “There's no doubt that he is the present and future of MotoGP.
“We know him well and he knows us well, and we both wanted to continue together.”
The 23-year-old Spanish rider, the youngest champion yet in the premier category, has been with Honda since 2013 when he won his first MotoGP crown.
“I've always wanted to continue being a part of the Honda team,” said Marquez ahead of his home Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend. Fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has already signed a contract extension to the end of 2018.
Marquez is currently second in the championship, 10 points behind compatriot Jorge Lorenzo who rides for Yamaha.
Espargaro follows Tech 3 team-mate to KTM
Pol Espargaro, meanwhile, will follow Tech3 Yamaha team-mate Bradley Smith to KTM.
The Austrian manufacturer said on Thursday the 24-year-old former Moto2 champion, currently seventh in the premier class, had signed a two-year contract. Smith agreed a similar deal in March while Mika Kallio has been appointed test rider.
Espargaro, whose older brother Aleix races in MotoGP for Suzuki, said at the Grand Prix of Catalunya: “I saw the opportunity to try something different. “Working with KTM will be crazy hard, but I'm ready to work.”
New MotoGP machine
The new KTM RC16 MotoGP bike is due to be presented at the Austrian Grand Prix in mid-August. KTM is currently Honda's chief rival in the Moto3 class, winning the title in 2012 and 2013.
Espargaro's departure leaves Tech3 with two vacancies for 2017 and a headache for team boss Herve Poncharal.
“At the moment I am not a very happy man, not a very happy team manager,” he said. “Our bike is very, very competitive but for some reason nobody wants it.”
He said Tech3 was talking to Alex Rins and reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco.
Reuters
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