Takaaki Nakagami remained in the hot seat for several weeks, before finally being extended to his position in the LCR team. Ai Ogura, the Moto2 rider to whom his Honda might have returned, had declined the offer, preferring to stay one more year in the intermediate category where he is currently fighting for the title. But is it just a year off for Nakagami?
The thing is, the Japanese driver only signed a one-year extension. When asked if his replacement in 2024 is already certain or if he thinks he has a chance to stay longer, he is undecided: “To be honest, I don’t know, because at the moment Honda says it’s not decided, it will depend on the results of both sides.
“I’m very happy to have another chance. Whether it’s maybe yes or maybe no, and depending on my results and Ogura’s plans, it was a very difficult time. Anyway , I’m taking this opportunity and you never know what the future will hold.” he continues. “We stalled next year and, for 2024, you never know. Maybe I’ll be super strong and I can stay another year, or two, I’m not sure.”
“You never know, it’s not established. My feeling is that but on the other hand it’s not 0% for 2024, so I’m going to try to really do my best and, if I I have another opportunity to stay, I will take it for sure.”
“Everyone knows Ogura is waiting, it’s the natural plan”, concède Nakagami. “But I will do my best from my side. The new generation is coming, so I will try to be competitive and [de faire] also a competitive bike to give to the next generation, maybe to Ogura. It’s super important. Maybe this might be my last chance or maybe I might have a couple more years.”
saying to themselves “very grateful”, Takaaki Nakagami claims not to have surveyed the competition. At 30, he says his only wish was to continue racing for Honda in MotoGP. “Honestly, no, I’ve never looked at any other manufacturer or anything different. I’ve always waited for Honda and pushed them saying I wanted to stay and help. I’ve never looked at any other manufacturer. ‘other constructor.’
As for the possibility of becoming a test pilot, it never crossed his mind, he said: “No. Some people asked me if I was going to be a test pilot in 2023, but I said to them, ‘Who said that?’ I never said that to anyone. In the future, yes, maybe, because I have a feeling with the bike and I think I can help with the development. So in the future, yes, if Honda has really need me. But right now I want to race.”
The fact remains that Takaaki Nakagami might play an important role in the development of the RC213V, he who has five seasons of experience with this motorcycle and has already greatly participated in the evaluation of its evolutions over the years. This expertise is also one of the arguments he has sought to put forward, as Honda will welcome two new riders next season with Joan Mir et Alex Rins.
“I think [pouvoir apporter mon expérience]. That’s why Honda decided to give me another opportunity, because if I had left Honda [aurait peut-être été] lost, with only Marc who would have had experience with the [RC213V] and the other three pilots none”, he points out. “At the same time, I want to help develop the bike. We have the same objective, first to improve the potential of the bike. We have to progress and define the direction to take.”
Even if his future had not yet been revealed, Takaaki Nakagami took part in the test of the innovations brought by Honda last week to Misano, in particular in the evaluation of an aluminum swingarm that Marc Márquez is already going use in racing this week. If he is not certain to have it also in Aragón, the Japanese pilot should on the other hand have a new fork crown, which he judged “very positive” during the test.
