Repsol Honda announces 2013 line-up

Repsol Honda has officially confirmed that retiring champion Casey Stoner will be replaced by rookie Marc🧸 Marquez, with fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa retained 𒈔to ride alongside him for the next two years.
Following Stoner's shock announcement at Le Mans, Honda initially made a bid for Jorge Lorenzo, but were unable to prevꦬent the 2012 title leader from re-sign🎃ing with Yamaha.
Keeping Pedrosa then became HRC's stated priority and terms were saidও to havꦛe been agreed even before Pedrosa won his first race of the season last Sunday in Germany.
"I'm very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda Team for the next two years. I𝓰t's been a very long relationship with Honda and I had a strong desire to stay here," said Pedrosa.
"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 𓃲again for their support; I'm sure that we have great things to do together".
Pedrosa's victory, combined with Stoner's last lap Sachsenring fall, means the Spaniard has moved into second in the world championship, 14 points from compatriot Lorenzo heaไding into this weekend's Mugello round.
Jo🦋ining Pedrosa on the official RC213Vs next year will be former 125cc world champion♉ and current Moto2 title leader Marquez.
Marquez's path straight into the factory team has been cleared by the recent removal ꦇof the 'Rookie Rule', which had forced all new riders to spend their first MotoGP season at a satellite team.
"To reach MotoGP next season with Repsol Honda is a dream come true and I want to thank HRC for their confid🐽ence in me," said the 19-year-old, whose aggressive on-track style has resulted in several visits to Racꦚe Direction.
"I am very proud to be a part of the big Hond♏a family for the future and I don't want to forget all the people have helped me since I🌺 began to ride motorbikes.
"Now my focus is on Moto2 where my team and I ar🧸e working very hard and we are excited to achieve our goal, which is to win the World Championship in 2012."
The Pedrosa-Marquez line-up officially ends any chance that seven time 👍MotoGP champ♐ion Valentino Rossi could make a return to the team.
Stoner's shock exit plans initially prompted 'anything could happen' responses from Honda regarding Rossi, but these were soon watered down to only a possible sat෴ellite team ride.
Rossi insists no contact has been made and he is looking ever more likely to re-sign for Ducati, despite just two podiums since leaving Yamaha at the end of 2010, although a theoretical chance of re-joining Lorenzo on📖 a Factory YZR-M1 remains.
Stoner was world champion with Ducati in 2007 and then in his debut season at Repsoꦗl Honda in 2011. The 26-year-old has taken 36 race victories since 2007, more than any other rider.
HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto said of his fut♋ure team li💮ne-up:
"We are very pleased to renew our contract with Dani and welcome Marc to the Repsol Honda Team. Dani is enjoying a very strong season and currenꦗtly fighting with Casey and 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."
Pedrosa and Marquez join Lorenzo, Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) and Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Yamaha) i🐎n having signed for the 2013 MoꦐtoGP season.
This weekend's It𒊎alian Grand Prix is roundꦓ nine of 18.

Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come a𓆉nd go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury iss𝔍ues.