Honda in talks with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso

Dani Pedrosa’s first win in 13 months last weekend in Laguna Seca couldn’t have come at a better time as he started negotiations over a new factory Honda contract.
HRC is desperate to retain the 23-year-old Spaniard, even though he has yet to deliver a world title for the world’s biggest manufacturer in four years and has only won seven of his 60 premier class classes.
The Japanese factory is still convinced that triple world champion Pedrosa is the man to drag them out of the doldrums.
“We have started to speak with Dani to understand his situation. We need to have more discussions but Honda wishes to keep him and I hope that Dani wants to stay. Maybe he wants to stay. But we have to do more development and improve the bike to convince him, “Honda chief Shuhei Nakamoto told MCN.
Honda are also closing in on a fresh deal with title sponsor Repsol, Nakamoto laughing off suggestions that energy drink giant Red Bull would invest millions into supporting Honda’s factory team.
Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovizioso has also started negotiations over a new Honda deal, with rumours of big interest from Yamaha and Ducati.
The former world 125 champion only has a one-year deal with HRC, and the Italian has been heavily critical at the lack of development of the 2009 factory RC212V.
“I don’t know at this stage,” said Dovizioso when asked whether he’d commit to staying with HRC.
“When you have the possibility to race for HRC you think can fight for the championship, but after I tried the bike I didn’t feel a really good package, so we need to work and we’re still working, “ said Dovizioso, who denied negotiating with Ducati and Yamaha.
He said: “I haven’t spoken with anybody yet.”