Marquez to take Stoner's seat
2012-07-13 11:50
PROMOTION TO THE BIG LEAGUE: Spaniard Marc Marquez will join his compatriot Dani Pedrosa at Honda from 2013 as Casey Stoner steps down.
Author: Iain Rogers
MADRID, Spain - Moto2 rider Marc Marquez will replace the retiring Casey Stoner and join Spanish compatriot Dani Pedrosa at Honda for the 2013 and 2014 MotoGP championships.
Marquez, 19 and World champion in the 125cc category in 2010, was runner-up in Moto2 in 2011 and is leading the 2012 standings by 43 points after eight of 17 races.
He said on MotoGP.com: "To reach MotoGP next season with Repsol Honda is a dream come true. Now my focus is on Moto2 where my team and I are working very hard and we are excited to achieve our goal - the World championship in 2012."
OUT OF LOVE
Reigning MotoGP champion Stoner of Australia announced in May he would retire at the end of the season after falling out of love with the sport.
Pedrosa, 26, has been with Honda since 2001. He moved up to MotoGP in 2006 and has twice been runner-up. He is second in the 2012 standings after winning the German MotoGP, 14 points behind Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, another Spaniard.
Pedrosa commented: "The fight for the championship this year is still open and the next two seasons will be very interesting."
