Monday 18 April 2016 18:01, UK
Reigning world MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo will end his nine-year stay with Yamaha at the end of 2016, after signing for Ducati.
The 28-year-old Spaniard has won three world titles with Yamaha but will call it a day with the team when the current season comes to an end in November.
The Mallorca-born rider has signed a two-year deal with Ducati whose two riders for this season are Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone.
Yamaha have already confirmed that Italian great Valentino Rossi, a winner of seven championships in the blue riband category of motor-cycling, will remain with the team for the next two seasons. They will announce their second rider later in the year.
A Yamaha statement reads: "After three incredible titles, 41 race wins and 99 podiums, Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha will part ways after the 2016 season.
"Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge's contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 rounds of 2016."
During the past seven seasons, Lorenzo won the title in 2010, 2012 and 2015, while also posting three runner-up finishes and a third place.
During his title-winning campaign last year, when Lorenzo pipped Rossi by five points, the pair endured a fractious relationship.
Rossi believed Lorenzo's compatriots Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa were helping their fellow Spaniard during the battle for the title.
Lorenzo then accused his team-mate of sour grapes saying, at the end of the season: "It's obvious there are younger riders who are faster than him.
"It must be frustrating not to have the speed that would have allowed him to win more races and arrive in Valencia with a greater advantage.
"None of this controversy and comments would have happened if Valentino had the speed of Marc, of myself, and had won more races.
"With a bit more speed and consistency, and without what happened at Sepang, he could have arrived in Valencia with a clear advantage and won the championship comfortably." Rossi did not attend the end of year gala prize giving.
