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16-07-2012: Honda’s 2013 Rider Line-up Locked In

Earlier this year, Australian Casey Stoner announced his retirement from the world’s premier class of motor cycle racing, MotoGP. This left a hole at Team Repsol Honda that needed filling and there was much spectulation on who it would be.

After Dorna changed their Rookie Rule it started to become clear that Honda would have their dream team all ready for the next two seasons.

Dani Pedrosa has resigned with the team for another two years and with the announcement of his new team-mate, Marc Marquez for the 2013 and 2014, the Spanish paring could not be happier.

Marquez is the 2010 125cc World Champion and will only be 20 years old when he makes his debut for the team in 2013. There was some doubt about Marquez’ future during the off season when the eye injury he sustained in a practice crash in October of last year was slow to heal, leaving him with vision problems.

With this issue behind him now, Marquze is leading the Moto2 World Championship by 43 even though he missed most of the winter tests because of his eye issue.

“To reach MotoGP next season with Repsol Honda is a dream come true and I want to thank HRC for their confidence in me,” Marquez said in a team release.

“I am very proud to be a part of the big Honda family for the future and I don’t want to forget all the people who have helped me since I began to ride motorbikes. Now my focus is on Moto2 where my team and I are working very hard and we are excited to achieve our goal, which is to win the World Championship in 2012.”

Pedrosa, who is currently second in the MotoGP World Championship to countryman Jorge Lorenzo, made his debut with Honda back in 2001 and went on to win the 125cc title in 2003 and the 250cc title in 2004 and 2005. The Spaniard made his MotoGP debut in 2006 and won Rookie of the Year honors.

Since then he has finished second in the title chase twice and third twice. He won his first race of the 2012 season last weekend at the Sachsenring in Germany – a race he has won three straight times.

“I’m very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda team for the next two years,” Pedroa said.

“It’s been a very long relationship with Honda and I had a strong desire to stay here. The fight for the championship this year is still open and the next two seasons will be very interesting for me. My whole career has been linked to Honda, since I entered into the World Championship in 125cc, then in 250cc and since 2006 in MotoGP. I’m perhaps one of the riders with the longest history with Honda, which makes me feel very proud. I want to thank HRC once again for their support; I’m sure that we have great things to do together.”

Shuhei Nakamoto is also pleased to have his team locked in for the next two years.

“We are very pleased to renew our contract with Dani and welcome Marc to the Repsol Honda team,” Nakamoto said.

“Dani is enjoying a very strong season and currently fighting with Casey [Stoner] and [Jorge] Lorenzo for the championship, we are very pleased with his performance. Marc has already proved how fast he is in 125cc and Moto2, and we believe that, giving him the right time to adapt to the new class, he will also be able to show this in MotoGP in the future.”

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