Jorge Lorenzo to jump ship to Ducati (2nd Update)
04/13/16 UPDATE
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| Jorge Lorenzo eyeing move to Ducati? |
Lin Jarvis says with each day Jorge Lorenzo doesn't confirm his plans for 2017 the chances of him re-signing for Yamaha reduce.
The Yamaha racing managing director believes the longer Lorenzo takes to make a decision on staying with the Japanese manufacturer or moving to Ducati only adds weight to the theory he will leave for the Italians at the end of the 2016 season.
On the eve of the season opener in Qatar Yamaha confirmed both Valentino Rossi and Lorenzo received a new two-year contract offer at the same time with Rossi signing immediately but the reigning MotoGP is yet to make up his mind.
It is understood Ducati, who have seen several attempts to attract Lorenzo from Yamaha in the past fail, have tabled an offer which the Spanish rider is giving seriously contemplation alongside the Yamaha deal.
Speaking to Speedweek, Jarvis has confirmed negotiations haven't been delayed by Lorenzo asking for more money and feels with each day passing since the offer was tabled the chances of him re-signing fall.
"I would say every day that passes since we offered Jorge the new contract reduces our prospects," Jarvis told Speedweek. "With each additional day of the bidding which he does not decide to accept our offer it reduces our chances with Jorge to stay. And there have already been many days gone."
Jarvis confirmed in Qatar Lorenzo has a deadline to accept the Yamaha offer but did not outline when it is.
03/20/16 Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis believes Jorge Lorenzo is waiting to evaluate a potential offer from Ducati following Yamaha proposing a MotoGP contract extension last week.
Jarvis says Lorenzo has what his management accepts is "the best offer they've had in Jorge's racing career", and he is now playing the waiting game.
"From Yamaha's side, we have put our best efforts to put a very good contract on the table," Jarvis told Autosport.com.
"Am I confident that he will accept? You can never be confident, because we are not alone, there are other competitors and Jorge is the current world champion and one of the fastest riders in the world.
"There will be other teams and constructors looking to attract his services.
"With a bit of luck, Jorge soon will also decide to go on with us."
When asked who Lorenzo could be waiting on, Jarvis said: "My guess is Ducati, because Honda already has a top, leading rider.
"Ducati has two very competitive riders but from what I understand they are looking to take a top gun, one of the top four, in order to take their program to another level."
"From my experience with Jorge over many years, he is always somebody that wants to try to evaluate and understand all of his possibilities before making a commitment," he added.
"He always wants to try to stand a hundred per cent behind the decision that he finally makes.
"Maybe some other people would do it in a different way, but Jorge is somebody who, normally, he wants to understand.
"He wants to know everything, he wants to have it all laid out on the table, evaluate plus and minus and then decide.
"We hope that he will choose Yamaha and make the right decision.
"We can do no more than we have done, so we are comfortable with our proposal and comfortable with our team and our package and everything we have.
"But if somebody finally chooses to do something else, it's their right to do so."