Takaaki Nakagami To Decide Uncertain MotoGP Future Before The Indonesian GP

Saajan Jogia | Aug 23, 2024

Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Takaaki Nakagami (30) of Japan and LCR Honda Idemitsu before the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami's future remains uncertain, as his seat for the 2025 season hasn't been finalized. Although it is believed that he has received an offer from Honda, the Japanese rider has refused to reveal any details, suggesting that a decision will be reached before the Indonesian GP.

Among other Honda riders, Nakagami secured the best position by finishing 14th in Sunday's Austrian MotoGP. This result places him just one point behind his teammate Johann Zarco, who is currently the leading Honda rider in the world championship standings in 18th place.

Nakagami plans to think over the Honda offer during the one-week gap after the upcoming Aragon GP when the Repsol Honda team heads to Misano for testing. While his offer is speculated to be for a test rider position with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), it is unlikely since HRC has already filled its test rider lineup with Stefan Bradl and Aleix Espargaro.

While HRC team manager Alberto Puig revealed in Austria on Sunday that nothing has been decided yet about Nakagami's seat for the next season, his position is said to be under threat from Moto2 rider Somkiat Chantra.

Speaking about the one-week gap, which he intends to utilize to arrive at a decision concerning his future with Honda, Nakagami told the media:

“Aragon or Misano, I hope.

“After this GP we have a one week off because the Repsol guys go to the Misano test, but our LCR team we don't have any tests. So it looks like I have time to think about it.”

Puig revealed that not only was Nakagami's performance commendable, but he also has a wealth of MotoGP experience. He told Simon Crafar, as reported by Crash.net:

“Nothing is decided yet. But Taka is a rider that has a lot of experience with our bike. And also, he's very fast.

“It’s true that he has not been so lucky in the past years, he had some injuries. But always to have a Japanese rider with a high level is very good for the factory, because the communication in Japanese is let's say more understandable for them.

“And I think Taka has a clear understanding of the bike and during all these years he helped a lot for the development of the bike.

“But on the other hand it's true that the Asia Talent Cup produces a lot of riders and, for example, Ogura signed for MotoGP with Aprilia and Chantra in the future maybe can also join MotoGP.

“So it's a compromise and Honda must think what will be the future of these people. But to have experienced riders beside young riders is always positive. And this is more or less in the situation where we are now with the Asian riders.”

Meanwhile, Nakagami's teammate Zarco said he was unsure of who would be his future teammate, although he preferred the prospects of a rookie rider. He added:

“I don’t know [who it will be]. I heard about Chantra. Which would be kind of cool, for Thailand to have a rider. He has a lot of energy, he attacks a lot. But clearly he doesn't have the experience that Nakagami has.

“I think having a rookie, learning new things, we can… maybe understand some strong or some weak points of the bike. Because a rookie doesn't have any references.

"Sometimes having like a '[blank] paper' can be kind of interesting and good.”

Nakagami has revealed his intention of staying with the team as his first preference. The 32-year-old rider said at Silverstone:

“My plan A is to stay with the same team and to continue because honestly speaking it is not fair to decide my potential this season because all four riders are struggling, not only me."