Konica Minolta Honda have confirmed that Makoto Tamada will leave the team at the end of the Moto GP season.


“I took this decision because I know what the Team made for me and I feel that, even for them, it is now the right moment to renew the enthusiasm.”

Team boss Gianluca Montrion thanked Tamada for his two years of service, which included a podium finish in his home race at Motegi in 2005.

“The years spent with Makoto will leave a permanent mark in my memories for the strong emotions we lived, for all the efforts we did, for the deep belief and will we had in always doing our best to support him.

“I hope he could find the right position in a Team reflecting his aspirations, where he could continue his career and express his potentials at the top.”

The rider's future remains unclear. With only Tech-3 Yamaha, Kawasaki and Ilmor appearing to have seats available for next season, he could return to race in his homeland, or even switch to World Superbikes – where he won three races between 2001 and 2002.

Tamada's replacement is expected to be his countryman Shinya Nakano, after the 29-year-old Kawasaki rider confirmed he would not be staying with his current team next year and had been in talks with Honda about a 2007 ride.