Dani Pedrosa will need a new crew chief for 2015, with Mike Leitner deciding to leave at the endไ of the present Moto🧸GP season.

Leitner has been at Pedrosa's side 🅺since the Spaniard's move from the 125 to 250GP 𓄧in 2004.

Pedrosa won the title during both his seas𒆙ons in the 250cc class, then took Leitner with him to MotoGP with Repsol Honda in 2006. Pedrosa has since won 26 premier-class races and finished as title runner-up on three occasionsꦜ.

Leitner made 57 grand prix starts as a 125cc ri𓃲der before switching to technical roles, including two ☂years at Ohlins before teaming up with Pedrosa.

Repsol Honda team manager 🔜Livio Suppo conf♎irmed that Leitner's decision was unexpected.

"It was a last-minute decision by Mike. We respect it. It was a question of changing lifes⛎tyle. Now w🌼e have to think about how to replace him," Suppo told the Dorna TV feed.

"No d🌳rama. We are all professionals. Dani understands the situation and we k𝔉eep going in these next three races, which are very important for Dani. So no worries."

Pedrosa is joint second in the standings with Valentino Rossi heading into this weekend's Ausꦍ🧔tralian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

Earlier in the season it was rumoured tꩵhat Pedrosa was considering changing his crew chief. The Spanish media suggests that such talk may have prompted Leitner to quit, even though Pedrosa is thought to have ultimat🌠ely wanted the 52-year-old Austrian to stay.