Summary Jorge Lorenzo is to leave Yamaha at the conclusion of the 2016 MotoGP campaign.
BARCELONA (Agencies) - Jorge Lorenzo is to leave Movistar Yamaha at the conclusion of the 2016 MotoGP campaign and make the switch to Ducati.
Yamaha announced on Monday that its association with the defending world champion is to come to an end, with Ducati confirming an agreement with the Spanish rider shortly after.
Lorenzo has spent his entire MotoGP career with Yamaha and has won 41 races, claimed 99 podiums and three world titles in his time with the team.
But he is now set to take on a new challenge with Ducati, signing on to ride the Desmosedici GP for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
A Yamaha statement read: "Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge’s contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 MotoGP rounds of 2016, their ninth season together.
"Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. wishes Lorenzo the very best in his future racing endeavours and reconfirms the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team’s full support on his campaign to achieve his fourth MotoGP title.
"Having already reconfirmed Valentino Rossi for 2017-18, Yamaha will announce the future Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team riders’ line-up in due course after securing the services of the second rider."
Tensions flared last season as Lorenzo and team-mate Rossi battled for the world title, which the former sealed with victory in the final race of the season in Valencia after Rossi had been pushed to the back of the grid having been deemed responsible for a collision with Marc Marquez in Sepang.
Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales is the favourite to take Lorenzo’s place alongside Rossi.
