Hot Competition For LCR Honda Rider Seats For MotoGP 2023: Alex Marquez And Takaaki Nakagami Threatened By Somkiat Chantra - Ai Ogura

LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami. (Doc. MotoGP)

JAKARTA - Honda's LCR motorcycle seats for MotoGP 2023 are heating up. Reportedly, LCR boss, Lucio Cecchinello, is considering who will strengthen his team next season.

The position of Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami is certainly not safe. Cecchinello is reportedly starting to run out of patience because the two drivers never gave good results for the team.

For Alex Marquez, Cecchinello is reportedly still waiting for the next few races. Moreover, the younger brother of Marc Marquez has just finished seventh in the Portuguese MotoGP race.

However, not so with Takaaki Nakagami. This 30-year-old racer is prone to being displaced because he never shows a charming performance.

During 4.5 years in MotoGP, the Japanese rider has never won the podium. His best achievement is finishing fourth, and that was last done at the 2021 MotoGP at the Jerez Circuit, Spain, 2 May.

Cecchinello himself did not want to comment much. He only said that it is very important for Nakagami to look good from now until the end of June if he does not want his position to be replaced.

"We have to be very careful before saying Taka will not get a contract again, because he is a fast driver," Cecchinello said in an interview with Speedweek.

If Nakagami is not able to secure his place, there are already several names that are potential replacement candidates. Among them are Honda Team Asia riders in Moto2, Somkiat Chantra and Ai Ogura.

Somkiat Chantra this season looks amazing. He was able to compete in the front row on several occasions. In fact, this Thai rider was able to win the Moto2 Mandalika race, last March 20.

So is Ai Ogura. This talented young Japanese rider has been on the podium twice this season, namely in Moto2 Argentina and America. In Moto2 Portugal, he actually had a chance to win. Unfortunately, an unexpected incident made him have to end the race early.

Regarding the names of Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra, Cecchinello could not give much comment. He still has to wait for Honda's decision, as their main sponsor.

"We have to wait whether Honda wants to promote young riders from Moto2 to MotoGP for the 2023 season," he said.