Brazilian Barros is joining Honda
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Brazilian Alex Barros will switch from Yamaha to race for Honda in MotoGP next season, officials have announced.
He replaces Italy's world champion Valentino Rossi, who surprisingly switched to Yamaha at the end of last season.
Barros, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, finished ninth in the world championship last year and his move to Honda had been widely anticipated.
"Following the recent announcement by Alex Barros in Brazil that he is free to seek a new MotoGP ride for the 2004 season, Honda Racing Corporation today can confirm that the 33-year-old Brazilian will ride alongside Nicky Hayden ... for 2004," said a statement.
Barros should have no problem adapting to the Honda RCV, which has dominated the top class of grand prix racing for the last two years, as he rode it to victory in two of the last four races of the 2002 season.
The 2004 season starts in South Africa on April 18.
