Lucio Cecchinello says essential selections about LCR’s 2026 MotoGP rider line-up are prone to be made in early August, throughout Honda’s conventional conferences across the Suzuka 8 Hours.
LCR is the one MotoGP crew with each of its seats nonetheless unconfirmed for subsequent season.
High Honda rider Johann Zarco has impressed with victory at Le Mans and a podium at Silverstone, prompting him to flirt with a transfer to the manufacturing facility HRC squad.
On the opposite facet of the storage, rookie Somkiat Chantra has endured a troublesome debut season aboard the Idemitsu-backed RC213V and is at present sidelined by means of damage.
Chatting with MotoGP.com throughout Friday’s FP1 at Brno, Cecchinello mentioned the Suzuka occasion shall be pivotal for the way forward for each riders.
“I believe that in early August we’ll know extra,” mentioned the Italian. “For a Japanese producer like Honda, they’re doing loads of conferences through the Suzuka 8 Hours interval.
“It’s all the time an excellent event for all of the bosses to satisfy and make the ultimate approval on all of the initiatives, together with our rider line-up.
“So we’re wanting ahead, and we maintain our fingers crossed to presumably proceed to work with Johann.”
Zarco will as soon as once more compete within the endurance traditional for Honda, having been a part of the race-winning crew in 2024.
Idemitsu function in deciding LCR Honda 2026 seat
As for LCR’s second bike, run underneath the Idemitsu banner and lengthy aligned with supporting Asian riders, Cecchinello mentioned a wider dialogue can be pending.
“That could be a program that’s within the palms of Honda, and along with Idemitsu, they’ll take a last determination,” he defined.
“This venture was born with the goal of giving alternatives to Asian riders.
“It’s a pity that Somkiat couldn’t present his potential or study sufficient due to a few accidents – he had arm pump [surgery] early within the season, and now a knee damage.
“It’s actually unlucky for me to see that he’s not right here to indicate what he can do. I don’t know precisely what the longer term will maintain. I believe that is additionally a matter that shall be mentioned quickly in Japan.”
Chantra, Thailand’s first MotoGP rider, scored some extent with fifteenth place at Assen, aided by HRC check rider Aleix Espargaro.
However with the RCV now changing into a extra enticing prospect, Chantra’s future within the premier class stays unsure.
HRC check rider and former LCR racer Takaaki Nakagami is changing Chantra for this weekend’s Czech MotoGP.
