The silliest of MotoGP silly seasons in recent memory is finally drawing to a close. And Jorge Lorenzo will not be riding a Ducati, Suzuki or even a satellite Yamaha in 2019.

The news that Lorenzo will join the works Honda team in 2019 on a two-year deal, partnering Marc Marquez, sent shockwaves through the MotoGP paddock last week.

It seems that when Lorenzo addressed the media at Mugello to refute rumours of his impending retirement, declaring instead he would "be on a competitive bike for the next two years", he knew this would be a factory Honda and not the satellite Yamaha that had been widely assumed.