Takaaki Nakagami Stays in LCR Honda, the 2023 MotoGP Racer Lineup is Almost Complete

JAKARTA - LCR Honda has finally decided to keep Takaaki Nakagami. This Japanese rider will duet with Alex Rins for the 2023 MotoGP race.

Previously, Nakagami's fate was a question mark. The reason is that there is an issue that he will be replaced by Ai Ogura, a Honda Team Asia racer who is now racing in Moto2.

With this contract extension, it means that Nakagami will undergo his sixth season with LCR.

"I'm very happy to continue racing in MotoGP in 2023 with the LCR Honda Idemitsu... I can't wait for next season, and I will give everything to achieve the best results for this team," Nakagami said, quoted as saying on the official MotoGP website, Tuesday.

During his 80 MotoGP starts, Nakagami has finished as the top independent team rider for five seasons and has scored six top-five finishes in races.

He also bagged one pole position and four front row starting positions in the premier class, in addition to 14 podiums in the Moto2 class, which includes two wins.

With the extension of Nakagami's contract, the 2023 MotoGP rider formation is almost complete.

The only seat that has not been occupied is in the GASGAS Factory Racing KTM team, to become Pol Espargaro's tandem.

Before LCR officially defended Nakagami, Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini were also announced to stay on the VR46 team for next year.