In today’s Rewind feature we re-visit what would be a pivotal moment in both the then present time and the future of MotoGP as Jorge Lorenzo inked a deal for the 2013 and 2014 seasons with Yamaha.

With the shock announcement of Casey Stoner’s retirement from the sport, a gaping hole was left at the Repsol Honda team, with fervent speculation around who would fill the seat.

Then a one-time MotoGP World Champion and twice runner-up, Spaniard Lorenzo was strongly linked to the seat, though the move was quashed when negotiations with Yamaha were sped up, locking him into the factory YZR-M1 seat for an additional two years.

Jorge Lorenzo on his 2013 steed – just how different would MotoGP have been if he had signed with Honda?

“They’ve made great efforts to retain me in the factory team so I want to thank all those involved at Yamaha for this,” said Lorenzo at the time. “I’ve been treated like part of the Yamaha family since 2008 and I love working with them.

“It has always been my first option to stay here and so I’m happy that this important negotiation has finished with such a positive outcome.”

Yamama Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis was comfortable that Lorenzo could then continue his pursuit of the world title – which he incidentally won – “without any distractions”.

Should Lorenzo have been lured to Honda, the makeup of the current world championship could be significantly different today.

Would Marc Marquez have stepped into the factory seat regardless? And if so, would this have ousted Dani Pedrosa from the mount? Who would fill the prized Yamaha seat?

Lorenzo’s loyalty to the blue brand means these questions went unasked, and the status quo maintained.

Read CycleOnline’s original news story announcing the signing here