Nakagami contract delay: 'I want same situation as Cal'
Takaaki Nakagami has shed light on why he is yet to sig🍬n a new MotoGP contract with HRC, t൲o remain at LCR Honda in 2020.
The Japanese bea✃t his entire rookie-season points tally within the opening six races of this year, including𝐆 a new best of fifth place at Mugello, despite being the only RCV rider on a year-old machine.
And that's the sti🌳cking poi🌊nt for next year's contract.
With MotoGP closer than ever, Nakagami wants at least equal machꦍinery to team-mate Cal Crutchlow in 2020.

Takaaki Nakagami has shed light on why he is yet to sign a new MotoGP contract with HRC, to remain at LCR♛ Honda in 2020.
The Japanese b𒀰eat his entire rookie-season points tally within the opening six races of this year, including a new best of fifth place at Mugello, despite being the only RCV rider on🌸 a year-old machine.
And that's the sticking point for next year🤪's contrac🧸t.
With MotoGP closer than ever, Na🌜kagami wants at least equal machinery to team-mate Cal Crutchlow in 2020.
The Englishman (also contracted directly to HRC) gets a third factory bike, albeit often several upgrade💯s behind the official Repsol team of Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo.
"Still no agreement," Nakagami said at Brno on Thursday. "I cannot agree with the conditions. HRC and me are trying to find tಞhe best balance.
"They say [a year-old bike again in 2020] and I'm pushing to have, not l🍌ike a completely factory bike, but at least f൩or me to have the same situation as Cal. This is my opinion."
The only Japanese rider in the MotoGP class added: "It's difficult for marketing in Japan. I understand. But if we need to growꦯ up and we need good results, we need the good bike.
"For sure I will fight until the last mome𝓰nt because most of the riders and teams have a factory bike. I don’t say that the previous year's bike is a bad bike,ꦿ but most of the bikes are growing up and improving a lot and now you can see only one-second covers 15-16 riders.
"So it means one or two tenths is a big gap; you a✨re able to move five or six positions. So this is very sensitive. I understand 𒈔the opinion of HRC but I'm pushing my opinion. Let's see."
Nakagami briefly 🌌tried Crutchlow's 2019 bike at the Catalunya post-race teꦿst, to offer feedback to HRC.
The 27-year-old starts the second half of this season ho🌜lding twelfth in the world champi🗹onship, despite being taken out by Valentino Rossi at Assen and then bravely riding injured at Sachsenring.
"The last two races in Assen and Sachsenring were unlucky. I couldn’t get good points. But some races were good, maybe some other races we can improve a little bit. So my feeling [about the season so far] 🃏is 50-50. I'm happy, but on the other hand maybe we can improve."
Having now recovered from his Assen injuries, Nakagami is "really looking forward to the second half of the season and these next two races will🧸 be very important for the future…"
Nakagami's LCR seat and Jack Miller's Pramac Ducati place are the only rides yet to bꦆe decided for 2020.

Peter has been in thꦡe paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit storꦅy and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.