Dani Pedrosa: ‘Never anything serious with Suzuki’

Dani Pedrosa has denied giving serious consideration to ending his career long association with Honda to head up Suzuki’s return to MotoGP next season.

The Spaniard was linked to a Suzuki slot earlier this season before he penned a new two-year deal to remain alongside dominant reigning world champion Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda until the end of 2016.

And the 29-year-old, who has never captured an elusive premier class in eight previous attempts, told MCN in a recent exclusive interview: “There was never anything serious with Suzuki and it was more from them.

“I always said that it was flattering but we never started real conversations because my priority was first to start talks with my current team and then see what happens.

“For many years I have always done the same policy and that is, first talk to the guys I am already with and then if there is no possibility then start talking to the others. But we started with Honda and finished with them.”

Asked if he felt it would have been a risk to jump off the dominant Honda RC213V to try and make the new Suzuki a consistent podium contender, Pedrosa added: “It depends on what you call a risk.

“I race because I want to perform well and I want to win. I don’t like to be racing for fifth or sixth and all my effort is to be at the top. That is how I have fun and for me that is how I understand this sport.”

Suzuki finally confirmed that Aleix Espargaro and current Moto3 world champion Maverick Vinales will lead its first MotoGP assault next season since 2011.