Nakagami, Morbidelli on LCR's radar for second bike
LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello says Moto2 riders Takaaki Nakagami and Franco Morbidelli could fit the bill if his MotoGP team expands to run two bikes in 2018.
The satellite outfit fielded two entries in 2015 when Jack Miller was placed alongside Cal Crutchlow, but has otherwise been a single-bike operation since entering the premier class with Casey Stoner in 2006.
MotoGP’s 24th and final grid slot is reserved for LCR, and Cecchinello is working on getting the finances required to run two bikes in 2018.
Japanese rider Nakagami has emerged as the most likely candidate, with the 25-year-old indicating during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend that he will graduate to MotoGP if he finishes third in Moto2 this year.
Nakagami is sixth in the championship after four races, with points leader Morbidelli already linked with a MotoGP ride with his Moto2 outfit Marc VDS Honda and Pramac Ducati.
“The reality is that every MotoGP team is interested in very competitive riders coming from Moto2,” Cecchinello said. “Morbidelli is one of them. Morbidelli has some opportunities with some other teams.
“We are looking for sponsors, looking at riders, Nakagami could be one of the group of riders. Absolutely nothing is done, nothing is really advanced.”
Nakagami is currently in his sixth season in Moto2, with 12 podiums and a single victory at Assen last year to his name.
Hiroshi Aoyama was the last full-time MotoGP rider from Japan, in 2014, and Honda is understood to be keen on promoting a home-grown rider to the premier class in 2018.
LCR won a pair of races in 2016 with Crutchlow, who is in his third season with the team but out of contract at the end of this year.
“There is a rumour I might have a teammate but I don’t know,” Crutchlow said. “I didn’t sign any contract so at the moment I can race for anybody next year.
“I know nothing about me being with LCR at the moment and if you’re talking about Nakagami, yeah, sure I’ve heard the rumour but it’s got nothing to do with me.”
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