Honda close to announcing Johann Zarco's future teammate

LCR Honda is preparing to finalize its line-up for 2025. With the verdict imminent, it appears that Nakagami will give way to Chantra.

Published on 10/08/2024 à 14:14

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Honda close to announcing Johann Zarco's future teammate

Who to support Johann Zarco at Honda in 2025 - Red Bull Content Pool

Grid MotoGP for the 2025 season is gradually taking shape and is seeing the final operations completed. After the contract extensions of Fabio Di Giannantonio at VR46, and Alex Rins at Yamaha, it seems that Honda is about to formalize its last rider for next year.

While Luca Marini and Joan Mir have already secured their place for 2025, there remains a seat to be filled alongside the Frenchman in the satellite team, LCR. Many names were then mentioned, and Takaaki Nakagami, current garage neighbor of Cannes, no longer seems to be part of the team's plans. A situation all the more obvious as there are many Asians – an important criterion for the brand – performing well in Moto2.

Asked about this, Lucio Cecchinello, team director, recently made some revelations, disclosing more or less clearly what his team's plans were.

“Ai Ogura (Moto2 title contender. Editor's note) was Honda HRC's number one option, and now I know they are talking with Nakagami and Chantra, entrusts the latter to the Spanish streaming channel, DAZN, near Silverstone. Normally, the driver who will take this place should be Nakagami or an Asian driver. »

A decision is expected to be made soon, as Cecchinello confirmed. The latter specifying that everything would be settled at the Austrian Grand Prix, which will take place at Red Bull Ring from August 16 to 18.

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John Zarco: “I work for myself”

More discreet, Johann Zarco also spoke on the subject, and would find it more advantageous for LCR Honda to sign a young driver, rather than keeping his current teammate.

“Chantra is a Thai, so it would be fire in Thailand, Zarco explained to the French-speaking media present on site. He has a big attack, and I think it would be cool for him to get on a MotoGP bike, and teach him how to exploit his potential. Nakagami is fast, but he often repeats the same things, and we feel like we could refresh it all. I think with Chantra it could be interesting.

Moto2 and MotoGP are two completely different riding experiences. Especially since they now use Pirelli tires, continues the Tricolor. I think it's worth a try for him though. It won't change my mission. I work for myself. It's interesting to have points of comparison, but the official team is there for that too. So it won't change anything for me. »

While it now seems unlikely that the Japanese, Ai Ogura, will not reach an agreement with Aprilia, it is also difficult to believe that LCR Honda is preparing to renew Takaaki Nakagami. The Somkiat Chantra option, currently twelfth in the Moto2 world championship, but whose marketing value is interesting, now appears the most obvious.

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