Alex Marquez replaces Lorenzo at Honda, joins brother Marc
Marc Marquez's Moto2 title-winning brother Alex will make his MotoGP debut in 2020 as his teammate at the works Honda team in place of the retired Jorge Lorenzo.
Triple MotoGP world champion Lorenzo announced his retirement on the Thursday of the Valencia Grand Prix, with speculation quickly swirling as to who would take his place.
Initially, it appeared as if Johann Zarco – whom Honda wanted for '19 and who showed promise on the year-old LCR Honda in the last three races – was favourite.
However, Alex Marquez soon became hotly tipped to take Lorenzo's seat, with Motorsport.com revealing on Friday that a deal was close to being signed.
Ahead of Tuesday's first pre-season test of '20, HRC has confirmed it will field an all-Marquez line-up next year – a first in MotoGP history.
The Spaniard has signed a one-year contract.
Listen to our Tank Slappers podcast...
The younger Marquez made his full-time grand prix debut in Moto3 in '12, and won the class two years later after a season-long duel with Jack Miller.
He stepped up to Moto2 in '15 with Marc VDS, though struggled in his first two seasons before securing a breakthrough victory in '17.
He won this year's Moto2 crown with a race to spare in Malaysia, and was set to remain in the class with the Belgian outfit before the Honda MotoGP opportunity came along.
Zarco has been linked to the vacant Marc VDS ride, having publicly shunned a rumoured place at the Avintia Ducati team, which he branded as "not a top team".
However, as Motorsport.com reported on Monday, this deal now looks closer to happening after a meeting between Ducati and Avintia bosses and Zarco.
Avintia gets improved Ducati MotoGP contract
Honda: Alex Marquez MotoGP deal depended on Moto2 success
How in-form Quartararo is evoking Marquez in MotoGP 2022
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo has seized control of the 2022 MotoGP world standings after another dominant victory as his nearest rivals faltered. And he is very much heading towards a second championship echoing how the dominator of the last decade achieved much of his success.
Why Marquez's surgery is about more than just chasing on-track success
OPINION: Marc Marquez will likely sit out the remainder of the 2022 MotoGP season to undergo a fourth major operation on the right arm he badly broke in 2020. It is hoped it will return him to his brilliant best after a tough start to the season without a podium to his name. But it’s the human victory that will far outweigh any future on-track success he may go on to have
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made