2021 Takaaki Nakagami remains at LCR Honda
Good afternoon all. Takaaki Nakagami is the newest racer to ensure a place in the MotoGP 2021 season. The lineup of MotoGP riders in 2021 has increased again after Takaaki Nakagami made his contract in the Honda squad. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) on Thursday (22/10/2020) announced a new agreement with Takaaki Nakagami starting the 2021 season. Takaaki Nakagami will return to the satellite team LCR Honda. He will be Alex Marquez's teammate next season.
The duration of Nakagami's contract is unknown. In an official statement, Nakagami is said to have received a multi-year contract. Even so with what motorbike he got from the Japanese racer. Previously, the Japanese racer was always armed with an old motorbike. The contents of the contract details are not yet known, Nakagami is delighted to be back racing in MotoGP.
Takaaki Nakagami has shown a solid performance in MotoGP 2020. He is the only racer who has always finished in the top 10 so far. That consistency has helped to boost Nakagami's position in the table. He is on all five points with 92 points, the highest among any Honda riders. Nakagami is also eyeing better results next season
The entry of Nakagami meant that there were two seats left in MotoGP, each from the Aprilia Gresini and Avintia Racing teams. Aprilia Gresini still chuckles waiting for their fate, Andrea Iannone, who is struggling to be free from the sanction of the racing ban. The decision regarding Iannone's doping case will be known at the latest next month. If Iannone's appeal fails, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso will be an alternative option for Aprilia in preparing their squad for MotoGP 2021.
On the other hand, the riders in the Avintia Racing team are still wide open even though the contract of one of their riders, Tito Rabat, is willing to go until next year. Tito Rabat is threatened with being displaced by the influx of two debutant riders from the Moto2 class. One racer who is almost certain to join forces is Enea Bastianini as the leader of the Moto2 standings. Bastianini is said to have signed a deal with Ducati and will be 'entrusted' to the Avintia Racing team next season
While other drivers who have the opportunity to join Avintia are Luca Marini, the younger brother of Valentino Rossi. Rossi is looking to get Marini into Avintia. The negotiation process is ongoing. MotoGP observer Carlo Pernat said that 90 percent of Marini will be in MotoGP next season. Marini will come with a sponsor to take over the position of Rebates. Rossi reportedly also offers Avintia all the motorbikes from the VR46 team in Moto3.