NAKAGAMI SIGNS MULTI-YEAR LCR HONDA DEAL

Takaaki Nakagami signs multi-year LCR Honda deal – Photo: LAT

Blossoming MotoGP rider Takaaki Nakagami has signed a multi-year deal to remain with LCR Honda for 2021 and beyond.

By DAN McCARTHY

The Japanese rider has been Honda’s leading rider this year as the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez was injured in the opening round of the season at Jerez.

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced that it has extended the contract with the 28-year-old for “multiple years” starting from next season.

In 2021 Nakagami will remain with satellite team LCR Honda where he will be joined by Alex Marquez (brother of Marc) who replaces British rider Cal Crutchlow.

In the Repsol Honda factory team Pol Espargaro takes the place of the demoted Alex Marquez to ride alongside Marc Marquez.

As part of the new contract Nakagami has been rewarded, from 2021 he will compete on a current spec Honda factory machine and means that the Japanese manufacturer will field four 2021 spec RC213Vs next season.

“I’m very happy to be able to continue racing for LCR Honda IDEMITSU in 2021 and beyond,” Nakagami said.

“I’m grateful to Honda for their generous support, allowing me to bring out my full potential this season.

“I will be doing my best to gain solid results for the remaining races and build on that momentum next year. I’m aiming higher with Honda. I look forward to your continued support.”

Nakagami has a long affiliation with Honda, from 2014 competing in Moto2 he rode for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia, as the manufacturer tried to nurture world-class riders from Asia.

In 2018 he stepped into MotoGP with LCR Honda and has remained there ever since, finishing his debut season in 20th place and improving to 13th last year.

Currently Nakagami sits fifth in the 2020 championship with four rounds remaining and is the only rider to finish every race in the top 10.

“I am very pleased that we can continue to battle with Takaaki Nakagami in the MotoGP class next season onwards,” said HRC director and race operations management division general manager Tetsuhiro Kuwata.

“I am truly grateful to the fans and IDEMITSU who have supported his career to date.

“This season, Nakagami’s performance has been solid, finishing within the points in every race, and is currently fifth.

“His presence in the MotoGP class is on the rise, and we look forward to his performance in the remaining races.

“He will be joined by Alex Marquez from next year, and I hope the two teammates will be able to bring out the best in each other, and bring the team better results than ever before.”

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