quote:

Takaaki Nakagami will remain in MotoGP in 2021 with LCR having signed a multi-year extension with Honda.

Nakagami stepped up to the premier class from Moto2 in 2018 with LCR, though is contracted directly to HRC.

Riding year-old RC213V machinery this year, Nakagami currently sits fifth in the standings and just 29 points off championship leader Joan Mir having managed a best result of fourth in the Andalusian GP in July.

Nakagami and LCR were keen to have the Japanese rider given current-spec works machinery having been HRC's leading rider this season.

Honda's press release makes no mention of what bike Nakagami will have in 2021, nor for how long his contract is actually for.

"I'm very happy to be able to continue racing for LCR Honda IDEMITSU in 2021 and beyond," Nakagami said.

"I'm grateful to Honda for their generous support, allowing me to bring out my full potential this season.

"I will be doing my best to gain solid results for the remaining races, and build on that momentum next year.

"I'm aiming higher with Honda. I look forward to your continued support."

HRC's general manager Tetsuhiro Kuwata added: "I am very pleased that we can continue to battle with Takaaki Nakagami in the MotoGP class next season onwards.

"I am truly grateful to the fans and IDEMITSU who have supported his career to date.

"This season, Nakagami's performance has been solid, finishing within the points in every race, and is currently fifth.

"His presence in the MotoGP class is on the rise, and we look forward to his performance in the remaining races."

Nakagami will be joined by Alex Marquez at LCR next season, who signed a two-year extension with HRC before the current campaign to continue riding factory machinery.

The 2019 Moto2 world champion has scored Honda's only podiums so far this season, taking a second in the wet French Grand Prix before storming to second in the dry at Aragon last weekend.

Current LCR rider Cal Crutchlow's future remains uncertain, though it is understood he has a pre-agreement in place with Aprilia for 2021.

However, Aprilia is continuing to stick by Andrea Iannone while he goes through the appeals process to have his 18-month doping ban overturned - with a final verdict expected by mid-November following the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing last week.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
Rainman, paging Rainman. The 848 Evo isn’t too bad on service is it? If I recall correctly the intervals are pretty close to the Japanese sport bikes and not too bad when you consider you are getting nearly supercar performance for a fraction of the cost.

It can’t be worse than this damn BMW in my garage that now won’t start. For the record F the people who designed the R1150GS. This is a beautiful example of why they lost the war. HUGE FN gas tank. Ok let’s hide the battery under it.

quote:

Lorenzo Savadori will debut in MotoGP™ astride the Aprilia RS-GP in the Grand Prix of Europe, scheduled to be held in Valencia from 6-8 November.

Savadori will also sub for Bradley Smith as an Aprilia Racing Team Gresini rider in the following rounds which will close out the 2020 MotoGP™ season, namely the Comunitat Valenciana GP on 15 November and the GP of Portugal in Portimao on 22 November.

Savadori is the newly crowned Italian SBK Champion after dominating the 2020 CIV premier category with six wins and two second-place finishes in the eight races held astride his Aprilia RSV4 managed by Nuova M2 Racing team. This extraordinary performance, achieved in a highly competitive championship against rivals with multiple titles, combined with his efforts as MotoGP tester pursued from the beginning of the year, led to his début in the premier class of worldwide motorcycle racing.

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO: “First and foremost, I wish to thank Bradley for his efforts this season. He took one the unexpected role of factory rider with great dignity and outstanding performance, and his contribution was extremely valuable. Now we are excitedly awaiting Lorenzo’s début. This promotion is certainly a reward for his great season as a CIV rider, dominating the Superbike category. But it is also a step of growth for a rider who will be a tester for our RS-GP in 2021 as well. Riding our fledgling project in the race as well will certainly be a step forward for Lorenzo and, therefore, for all of Aprilia Racing.”

Lorenzo Savadori: “To say I'm happy would be an understatement and I wish to thank Aprilia Racing straight away for this great opportunity. I will be arriving prepared for the event, thanks both to the work done during the tests on the RS-GP and to the CIV season that just ended. It was a challenging Championship that demanded top form and maximum concentration from me. Now I need to reorganise my thoughts, glean from the kilometres I’ve ridden astride the RS-GP and make sure I'm ready and focused for the first practice session.”

quote:

Andrea Dovizioso could return to the Yamaha fold in 2021 as its official MotoGP test rider in place of Jorge Lorenzo, Motorsport.com has learned.
Dovizioso rode a Yamaha in 2012 in his sole season with the Tech 3 squad after being ousted from Honda, with the Italian scoring six podiums on the M1 and finishing fourth in the standings.

He announced in August he would not be renewing his contract with Ducati beyond this year, bringing an eight-year partnership to an end.

Dovizioso was on Aprilia’s radar to join Aleix Espargaro in 2021, though Motorsport.com understands he never considered the Italian marque an option.

Recently, Dovizioso confirmed he was speaking with several manufacturers about a test rider role for next year having previously stated a sabbatical is an option if he didn’t find the right deal to continue racing.

In recent weeks, Yamaha, Honda and KTM have been in contact with Dovizioso’s manager Simone Battistella regarding a test role.

As well as the economic side, it seems Dovizioso’s desire from any deal would be the freedom to race in other disciplines – most notably motocross, having taken part in a round of the Emilia Romagna championship earlier this year before breaking his collarbone in a crash.

According to Battistella, a final decision will be made this week on his future.

“What Andrea wants is to be able to enrol in races in other disciplines this year,” Battistella told Motorsport.com. “We will make the final decision this week.”

A key element in Dovizioso’s decision will be what manufacturer gives him the best option to return to the MotoGP grid full-time in 2022.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Marc Marquez’s injured shoulder, further layoff would make Dovizioso a perfect substitute for Honda should HRC take him on.

But HRC isn’t keen on the idea of Dovizioso combining development of the RC213V with the risk of injury from racing motocross.

KTM’s work with test rider Dani Pedrosa has yielded two victories this year, and the Austrian marque’s desire to promote in-house talent makes it unlikely Dovizioso would be guaranteed a 2022 seat.

This leaves Yamaha as his best option, given Valentino Rossi’s Petronas SRT deal is at the moment only for one year, while the Japanese marque would greatly benefit from someone with recent race experience to help develop the M1 – not least its engine, which it will be looking to make a significant step forward with for 2022 having regularly been the slowest in the speed traps this year.

Lorenzo has only tested the M1 four times this year since February, and only the 2019 bike, while questions have been raised about his level of commitment and his usefulness to the project given he was four seconds off an Aprilia at the recent Algarve test in Portugal.

Motorsport.com understands Yamaha is in pole position to secure Dovizioso’s services next year.

Under the regulations for non-concession teams, Yamaha could field Dovizioso on the grid on three occasions next season - though this will depend on the easing of current COVID-19 restrictions on wildcards.

Recently, Rossi said he’d welcome having the three-time championship runner-up as a test rider should the opportunity arise.

quote:

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Garrett Gerloff (and not factory MotoGP test rider Jorge Lorenzo) has been put on standby to replace Valentino Rossi at this weekend's Valencia MotoGP.
Gerloff will step in if the Italian, who missed both Aragon rounds due to a positive Covid test, does not receive the required pair of negative PCR test results ahead of the Valencia weekend.

And he could well be needed since Rossi‘s latest PCR test, on Tuesday 3rd November, came back with another positive result for Covid-19.

Nevertheless, today (Wednesday 4th November) the Italian will undergo a new test. Should he test negative, Rossi would still have enough time to complete the required second PCR test and fly to Valencia.

But should Rossi be deemed 'unfit' to ride in Valencia, Gerloff will be backed by the #46's usual crew for his very first riding experience aboard a YZR-M1.

Rossi is now the only Yamaha rider no longer in title contention, with team-mate Maverick Vinales third in the world championship, 19 points from Suzuki's Joan Mir and sandwiched between the Petronas Yamahas of Fabio Quartararo (-14 points) and Franco Morbidelli (-25 points).

Valencia is hosting two back-to-back MotoGP rounds, followed by the Portimao finale.

"I‘m so honoured that Yamaha has considered me for this opportunity," Gerloff said. "This year has already been quite the adventure, and this would be the cherry on top. It‘s been a dream of mine to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike since I started racing so many years ago, and to potentially have it happen is really exciting.

"But I am just sorry to get this opportunity under these unfortunate circumstances for Valentino. I feel really bad for him and I hope that he recovers soon, we all miss the number 46 on track! All the best to him.

"If I do end up riding this weekend, it will be an uphill battle not knowing the bike, tyres, brakes, etc. Also, I have never been to the Valencia track before. But I‘m confident in myself and ready for the challenge! Thanks to all at Yamaha. Bring it on!"