Source: Supplied.

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has confirmed Spanish veteran Dani Pedrosa has re-signed with the factory Repsol Honda team for the next two seasons.

Pedrosa, 30, will ride for the official squad during 2017 and 2018, quashing recent rumours that he would be switching to Yamaha next year.

“I’m very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda Team,” Pedrosa commented. “I’m very grateful to Honda for the trust they’ve shown in renewing with me for an additional two years.

“I think it’s best for me to continue with the company I was with at my very first race. I’m happy that the negotiations have been quick and now I can just focus on racing. I want to give 100 percent this weekend at the Italian GP.”

Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC executive vice president, commented: “We’re very pleased to renew our contract with Dani and we really appreciate his loyalty to Honda and HRC.

“We’ve been working together for many years, but we always see in Dani the same passion and dedication. His experience is very important for helping our technicians to develop our bike and we’ll do our best to help him to demonstrate all his talent!”

Pedrosa has been a Honda rider for his entire career, beginning with his 2001 grand prix debut in the then 125cc class. A 125cc and double 250cc world champion, Pedrosa entered MotoGP with the Repsol Honda Team in 2006.

He has finished title runner-up on three occasions (2007, 2010, 2012) and third an additional three times (2008, 2009, 2013). He has achieved more podium finishes for the Honda factory than any other rider.

The conformation of Pedrosa to HRC comes ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, where it’s expected Yamaha will confirm Maverick Vinales alongside Valentino Rossi.