As the satellite team, the Honda LCR may be expected to play the role of the younger brothers. But if this season had anything gone with this group it is very comfortable to step out of the shadow of their factory representative and lead the way for the builder.
In the sad 2020 season for Repsol Honda, largely due to star Marc Marquez effectively losing the entire year through injury, LCR was flying the flagship by a higher finish in the team’s standing – even though 8th place didn’t have much to shout about.
The driving force behind their success was Takaaki Nakagami’s consistency – the rider claimed points in all but two Grands Prix last term when he was forced to retire.
It was in one of those two infamous races, the Teruel Grand Prix, where fan-favorite Nakagami watched him finish his first podium finish after claiming a position pole. It wasn’t long before he fell out on the first lap after what he later described as a “stupid mistake.”
Now 29, Nakagami’s strong performances will see him get factory-year-old equipment from this year, which could put him in an even stronger position to end his podium thirst in his fifth year in the main class .
Joining him this season will be Alex Marquez, the young brother of six-time world champion Mark.
Alex Marquez certainly had his problems in his rookie season last year, especially after effectively being the factory’s top rider from the opening round after an injury Mark ended a campaign .
With less weight on his shoulders, and still just 24 years old, he could just start showing his full potential with the Honda satellite outfit.
What they said
Takaaki Nakagami: “Last season was a good year for me. You can see we graduated [up] from 2019 but still we couldn’t get any podiums or win a race. We definitely need more success this season and we will get more consistent results.
“Our team has great potential. I believe we can fight for the tree and hopefully in the first race in Qatar, we will get our first podium to try and make a good start. on the season and that we have consistency in staying in the top three or top five. “
Alex Marquez: “This year, I’ve gotten a much better preparation – a clearer idea of what I need to improve, than what I need to focus on most. I feel so good.
“Honestly, I think I need to focus a lot on the 00 qualification which is the main target for the season. In the race, we always have a good pace but only in quali[fying] we are too slow and we need to improve so that we have a better position on the grid. “
How the lights go out …
“Cal Crutchlow is the only man to ever win a race for a Honda LCR in their world-class history, and without the team this year, work is much harder on the satellite outfit,” he said. FOX Sports Asia MotoGP presenter, Edward Russell.
“Taka Nakagami is still without a MotoGP podium and he needs to get that monkey off his back this year as he is now the top rider in the team. Another thing, Alex Marquez could be the main man at LCR soon.
“Last year the Spaniard had a couple of standing races at Le Mans and Aragon, with two back podiums, and now without the pressure of proving himself and justifying his place in the factory team, he is well placed to push forward and bring that first race win around this time. “
2021 will be successful if: While Repsol Honda is expected to go up a revival with Marc Marquez coming back and the arrival of Pol Espargaro, that should not mean that the LCR Team should settle for playing the second fiddle again – especially after what they showed last season.
Nakagami certainly deserves to be found standing on the main MotoGP podium of the class and displaying enough speed last term to say he could even challenge for a race win. If he – or Alex Marquez – does just that, the LCR Team will have plenty to hear.