Marc Marquez’s presence at the MotoGP tests in Sepang remains a mystery as his actual physical condition is known only to a few people who care about him.
Honda is still hoping to have the Spaniard when the riders first encounter their MotoGP at the Sepang test this year. But the Japanese have already come up with a plan B and even a plan C.
Plan B might as well be B for … Bradl. The German test rider is ready to get on his bike, as he has done with particular regularity since Márquez’s injury in Jerez in 2020. But with Stefan Bradl, who is busy with these tasks, the test team “loses” an important advantage, so the Japanese manufacturer already has another option in mind: Iker Lecuona. The young Spaniard has finished two seasons at Tech3 and this year signed for the official Honda team in the Superbike World Championship.
With so many riders contracting out this year, there is already a lot of work going on for 2023 and 2024, although Honda plans to keep Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró for the time being and have Stefan Bradl as a reserve when Márquez isn’t available, with Lecuona expanded the range of options within Honda.