Honda retains Dani Pedrosa for 2017 and '18 MotoGP seasons

The Spaniard has been with Honda for his entire MotoGP career, winning 28 premier-class grands prix since 2006 and finishing second in the championship three times, after riding Hondas to 125cc and 250cc titles.

As Maverick Vinales weighed up whether he would stay with Suzuki or move to Yamaha to replace Jorge Lorenzo - the latter option now considered a certainty - Pedrosa emerged as another possible candidate to partner Valentino Rossi at Yamaha next year.

However, ahead of his 250th grand prix across all three classes at Mugello this weekend, Pedrosa has penned a new, two-year deal with Honda.

"I'm very happy to be able to announce my renewal with the Repsol Honda Team," Pedrosa said.

"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 per cent this weekend at the Italian GP."

Team-mate Marc Marquez will also stay with Honda, but his discussions are not as advanced as Pedrosa's.

"We're very pleased to renew our contract with Dani, and we really appreciate his loyalty to Honda and HRC," HRC executive vice president Shuhei Nakamoto said.

"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."