Paddock whisper “floating around” Japanese MotoGP of Marc Marquez’s Honda replacement
Marquez earned a podium finish at the Japanese MotoGP, his first since Au✨stralia last year, to mark a positive end to h𝓀is manufacturer’s home grand prix.
But lurkiജng in the background is the uncertainty over H🙈onda’s star rider’s future after Gigi Dall'Igna's hint that Marquez is coming to Ducati.
The whispers in the paddock have turned to who Honda cou🥂ld recruit to replace Marquez.
“That’s tꦓhe million dollar question and no-one knows,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports during the Jap𒀰anese MotoGP.
“Thinking logically an experienced rider like Johann Zarco, who has signed to join the LCR team, w🌳ould be put in the factory team as a factory rider to do the development and testing.”
ꦉZarco has already confirmed that he will swap Pramac Ducati for LCR Honda next season as a replacement for Alex Rins who is heading to Yamaha.
But Honda could theoretically use Zarco in their factory ♓team rather than their satellite.
“So then there’s a space in the LCR team,” Hodgso👍n continued.
“There’s talk about Iker Le𝄹cuona who has done a few wildca♕rds replacing Marquez this season, and done a decent job.
“He’s got a Honda contract ridꦬing in World Superbike.
“But I’m also hearing that Jake Dixon’s name has r🔜eappeared.
“Yes, Jake 👍has got a🍒 contract to stay in Moto2. But that’s floating around.
“Will it or won’t it? Your g🔯uess is as good as mine.
“But Marquez is leaving Honda, definitely!”
Dixon was a consideration for a step into the premier class with Gresini Ducati꧒ earlier this summer but those rumours coolled - now,🌠 it appears, because Marquez will take that spot.
Dixon has penned a new Moto2 deal in the meantime but that w൲ill likely include an option to move into MotoGP if a seat arises.
But Mar⛎quez must confirm his Honda exit before these jigsaw pieces can ♛fall into place.
“I’m convinced 100%. At the last round I was 70-30 that he’s ✨leaving,”﷽ Hodgson said.
💧“Why has he not announced? Let’s not get confused, it’s easy to be confused. He’s got a contract next season at H🅰onda.
“So we’re here in Japan. He would say ‘stop this speculation, of course I’m staying with the manufacturer that I’ve been with all my career and won all these titles f🐎or’.
“He’s not announced it. Why not? The🌟re’s a clear reason why not. Because he’s leaving and he’s going to ride a Ducati next year.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a de﷽cade cover💎ing everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
