- Pol Espargaro has signed a two-year deal with the Honda factory team
- Alex Marquez will join LCR Honda, replacing Cal Crutchlow
Repsol Honda has confirmed that Pol Espargaro will join the team for the 2021 and 2022 MotoGP seasons, along with six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez. Of course, that news has been anticipated since KTM confirmed Espargaro’s exit last month and confirmed Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira for their lineup in 2021.
Alex Marquez moves to LCR Honda
At the end of last year, Honda announced reigning Moto2 champion (and Marc Marquez ‘brother) Alex Marquez to replace Jorge Lorenzo. It was the first time in MotoGP history that two brothers would ride for the same team. However, due to delays related to COVID-19, Alex has not yet had a chance to drive for Repsol Honda.
Now that Espargaro has been confirmed in the Honda works team, Alex will move to the LCR Honda squad from next year with the support of the works. Honda also confirmed that the 24-year-old’s current contract has been extended to the end of 2022.
“I am very proud to announce my renewal with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC),” said Alex Marquez.
“HRC gave me the opportunity to arrive in MotoGP and I am excited to be joining the LCR Honda team in late 2020 and competing in a large team with great experience in MotoGP. I would like to thank HRC and the LCR Honda team for their trust in me so that I can continue to be part of the Honda family and I will work hard to prove their trust in the results. Now I am excited to start the season in Jerez and I am fully focused on doing my best this year. “
End of the road to Cal Crutchlow
Alex Marquez will join LCR Honda in place of British racing driver Cal Crutchlow, who will leave the team after six years. Since joining LCR Honda in 2015, Crutchlow has secured three race wins and 12 podiums for the team.
This could spell the end of the 34-year-old’s MotoGP career as the majority of the teams, with the exception of Ducati and Aprilia, have already confirmed their rider lineups
A statement released by Honda said: “HRC would like to thank Cal Crutchlow for his hard and tireless work since joining HRC in 2015. With three wins and 12 podiums, the British rider has been a valuable asset on and off the track – one A constant source of excellent feedback for the engineers and has been an integral part of the development of the Honda RC213V over the past few years. HRC wishes it all the best in his future endeavors. “
After a long break, the 2020 MotoGP season finally starts this weekend at the Jerez Circuit in Spain. The full revised MotoGP calendar for 2020 can be found here.
See also:
The Ducati MotoGP team signs Jack Miller for 2021
F1 2020: Hamilton storms to the dominant GP of Styria