Former MotoGP polesitter in race return for French GP wildcard
🌜HR꧋C will field test rider Takaaki Nakagami at Le Mans
Honda has🐟 announced that it will field a second wildcard this season at next weekend’s MotoGP French Grand Prix, with Takaaki Nakagami making his 𒅌return to the grid.
The one-time MotoGP polesitter made his debut in the premier class in 2018 with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:LCR Honda and spent seven seasons with the Japanese ꦺbrand to the end of 2024.
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Takaaki Nakagami was♔ a consistent top 10 challenger in his time in MotoGP, but narrowly missed out on several occasions to break his podium duck - with the Japaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnese rider achieving a best of fourth on three occasions.
While at one stage last y🅺ear it looked like he would be remaining on the grid with LCR after Ai Ogura signed for Trackhouse, Somkiat Chantra’s surprise step to the pr𝓡emier class left no place for Nakagami.
Instead he signed with HRC to ๊become a test and deꦓvelopment rider.
He will now make his racing return next weekend at the French GP, marking the second round𓆏 in succession that Honda has elected to field a wildcard.
A brief statement from Hondꦜa read: “Another set of hands to help out on our journey back to theꦐ top!
“Takaaki Nakagami and the Honda HRC Test Team will be on track at the🦋 French GP for the second wildcard of the season.
“Maximum effort from everyone involved.”
This will be Nakagami’s first race appearance since last year’s Solidarity GP, with the Japanese rider most recently on 𒈔trac෴k at Jerez last Monday for the in-season test.
Honda fielded Aleix Espargaro as a wildcard last weekend at the Spanish GP, marking his first ra♑ce appearance with HRC and his first since officially retiring at the end of 2024.
Espargaro took the cheq♔uered flag in the grand prix in the poi𒈔nts in 14th, but was later demoted due to a tyre pressure penalty.
Due to its concession status, Honda can fi🐟eld up to 🥂six wildcards during the 2025 season.
The plans for the remaining wildcards are yet to be known, but w𝄹ith post-race tests in Arag🔯on and Misano, it is likely those will be eyed as opportunities for either Espargaro or Nakagami.
