Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has confirmed its partnership with Dani Pedrosa will conclude following the completion of the current MotoGP World Championship.

Pedrosa, who joined the Repsol Honda outfit in the premier class in 2006, has spent 18 years in total with the manufacturer across all three championship classes in the MotoGP series.

It’s understood the decision to part ways was a mutual agreement for the pair after 31 victories together, the Spaniard expressing that it’s time for a change in his career.

“I want to thank HRC for all these years of great success,” said Pedrosa. “I have grown not only as a rider but also as a person with them. I will always have HRC in my memories and in my heart. In life we all need new challenges and I feel it’s time for a change. Thanks, HRC.”

HRC president Yoshishige Nomura commented: “Today is a sad day for me. On behalf of HRC, I want to thank Dani for all his hard and successful work, and to express our gratitude for these two decades together. We also wish him the very best of luck and success. Thanks, Dani.”

It’s not yet determined who fulfil the vacant position alongside multi-time champion Marc Marquez, however Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) has most recently been linked to the team, fresh after claiming his first grand prix win since 2016.