While much speculation has been focussed on the future machinery of Pramac and🌟 VR46, LCR is the other satellite MotoGP team out of contract with its manufacturer at the end of this season.

But having run Honda machinery since joining the premier class (with Casey Stoner) in 200🎶6 - and given current LCR r🌳ider Johann Zarco is only in the first year of a two-year (HRC) contract - a change seems unlikely.

Nevertheless, KTM made a “fr🌞iendly phone call” to LCR last year, as the Austrian factory sought to try and secure more RC16s on the grid.

“I replied that I had signed a three-year contract with Honda that will expire at the end of next year [2024],” LCR boss Lucio Cecc🔥hinello , adding:

"I've been with Honda for 18 yearsಞ, it's clear it would be difficult for me to leave. I feel like a Honda man."

But what is the current🀅 status of the LCR-Honda contract talks for 2025?

An LCR spokesperson told mahbx.com that ‘during the upcoming weeks’ Cecchinello will ‘approach💎 it with HRC’.

If HRC fa🉐iled to reach a new agreement with LCR, it would presumably need to move Zarco alongside Luca Marini at the factory Repsol Honda team🐷 to see out the second year of his contract. 

Like Zarco, Marini has signed with HRC until the end of 2025 but their team-mates - Takaaki 🤪Nakagami (LCR) and Joan Mir (Repsol) - are out of contract at the end of this season.