Andrea Dovizioso’s situation in Honda HRC was a paradox.
He had a signed contract with an option for the 2011 season, if he finished 5th or better, then Honda even before knowing the standings went and signed both Dani Pedrosa (we knew he wasn’t going to be leaving) and Casey Stoner, putting the team in a fine contractual mess.
The mess was, could the team support three factory riders and if Repsol could and would sponsor a three rider effort, but Honda has set everything to rest by announcing today that they’ll be keeping all three riders (Dovizioso will not be shuffled off to Gresini) and that Respol has not only upped their backing money, but also agreed to a further two year sponsorship extension with the team.
Shades of 1995 … “We are delighted to announce that our valued partners at Repsol will once again join us in our quest for the MotoGP World Championship next year,” stated HRC president Tetsuo Suzuki.
“Honda’s partnership with Repsol has been long and successful and we are very proud to be together again for this challenge into the future.
We are also very pleased to expand the Repsol Honda Team to once again include three riders next year.
Our current riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will be joined by Casey Stoner, all racing in Repsol Honda colours to form a truly formidable line-up that we believe can fight for victory at every race and achieve our joint goals: recapturing all three MotoGP World Championship titles.
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