Paddock whisper “floating around” Japanese MotoGP of Marc Marquez’s Honda replacement
Ma♒rquez earned a podium finish at the Japanese MotoGP, his first since Australia last year, to mark a positive end to his manufacturer’s home grand prix.
But lurking in the background is the uncertainty over Honda’s staಞr rider’🦩s future after Gigi Dall'Igna's hint that Marquez is coming to Ducati.
The whisp🦋ers in the paddock have turned to w🍒ho Honda could recruit to replace Marquez.
“That’s the mi൲llion dollar question and no-one knows,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports during the Japanese MotoGP.
“Thinking logically an expe⛄rienced rider like Johann Zarco, who has signed to join the LCR team, would be put in the factory team as a facto🎃ry rider to do the development and testing.”
Zarco has already confirmed that he w👍ill swap Pramac Ducati for LCR Honda next season as a replacement for Alex Rins whoꦍ is heading to Yamaha.
But Honda could theo♚retically use Zarco in their fact🌱ory team rather than their satellite.
“So then t🌠here﷽’s a space in the LCR team,” Hodgson continued.
“There’s talk about Iker Lecuona who has done a few wildcards replacing Marquez this season, and done a de𓆉cent job.
“He’s got a Honda contract riding in World Superb�𝓡�ike.
“But I’m also hearing that Jake Dixon’s name has reapp🌄earℱed.
“Ye🧔s, Jake has got a contract to stay in ♑Moto2. But that’s floating around.
“Will it or won’t it? Your guess is ✱as good🅷 as mine.
“But Marquez is leaving Honda, definitely!”
Dixon was a consideration for a step into the premier class with Gresi𒈔ni Ducati 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 will likely iꦐnclude an option ﷽to move into MotoGP if a seat arises.
But Marquez must confi🍷rm his Hon𓆏da 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 not𒀰 announced? Let’s not get confused, it’s easy to be confused. He’s💖 got a contract next season at Honda.
“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 for’.
“He’s not announced it. Why not? There’s a clear reason why not. Because he’s leaving and he’s going to ride a ෴D💟ucati next year.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade cover♋in𝓀g everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
