Honda MotoGP team manager Alberto Puig has remained coy on rumours that KTM pilot Pol Espargaro would switch to the Japanese marque for 2021 in place of Alex Marquez.
Rumours emerged yesterday that the Spaniard had already informed KTM of his decision to leave the team and join Honda alongside Marc Marquez, with Alex likely heading to Honda’s official satellite LCR team instead.
Puig though refused to be drawn on Espargaro directly, stating that Honda did not have “any contracts signed”.
“HRC is always thinking about the present and the future of its structure, from the lower categories to MotoGP,” said Puig.
“Due to the circumstances that we are in, this season is not developing through the usual channels, but that does not mean that Honda stops continuing to plan the best possible future for all their riders.
“We do not have any contracts signed with anyone that have not already been announced.”
Espargaro is currently waiting to begin his fourth season with KTM, having been with the squad since it entered the MotoGP fray for the ’17 campaign.
Development of the manufacturers RC16 machine has been slow-albeit consistent- with Espargaro having secured his best championship result with KTM last year with 11th, having scored nearly double the points he managed in ’18.
The shock move will probably see Tech 3 racer Miguel Oliveira-who missed out on a ’20 factory KTM berth to rookie Brad Binder-replace Espargaro, leaving the French outfit the difficult task of finding a replacement.
Cal Crutchlow could be the main domino to fall should this scenario play out, with Nakagami most likely safe due to his Idemitsu-backed entry only being set-up and run for a Japanese rider.
LCR more than happy to continue with Crutchlow
LCR’s Lucio Cecchinello meanwhile has reaffirmed his backing for Crutchlow, stating that he would be “more than happy” to continue with the Brit for a seventh consecutive season.
The Italian admitted though that he was not involved directly in negotiations with the three-time premier class winner due to him being a contracted HRC racer, and not an LCR one.
“I’m looking forward to talking with Cal (Crutchlow) and Honda to possibly renew his contract for the next year,” said Cecchinello.
“There is some discussion between Cal and HRC, I am not involved directly because Cal is a HRC rider, but from our side we would be more than happy to continue with Cal Crutchlow.”
Crutchlow has secure all three of his MotoGP victories with LCR, with his maiden success at the ’16 Czech grand prix at Brno the first for a British pilot in the premier class since Barry Sheene 35 years prior at the 1981 Swedish GP.
The ex-Ducati and Tech 3 man has been open about the potential for retirement in the near future following several significant injuries-the worst being severe lower-leg injuries sustained at Phillip Island towards the end of ’18 that forced him to miss the final three contests.
