This 🍎weekend's Japanese MotoGP should see Jorge Lorenzo become the youngest rider in history to reach 200 premier-class starts, at 32 years and 169 days old.

But the question now widely bei𒅌ng asked is how many moꦜre starts he will make at Repsol Honda.

With Johann Za𒀰rco poised to replace LCR's Takaak💃i Nakagami for the finalꩵ three rounds of the season, speculation is rife that the Frenchman is being considered to replace Lorenzo in 2020.

The triple MotoGP champion has a contract until the end of next season, but all contracts include some kind of ex💛it clause/penalty. Or, as with Zarco and KTM, a factory can usually decide to release a rider from their commitments.

While Lorenzo remains publicly c🐈ommitted to seeing out his Honda contract, with no progr🌠ess being made to improve his lacklustre results - best of eleventh before the Assen back injuries, no higher than 14th since – many are wondering how much longer the situation can continue for either party.

As the home track of Honda, Motegi should provide the chance for ඣcrunch meetings with Honda/HRC bosses and therefore provide some clarity over Lorenzo's fu💮ture, one way or the other.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo saiꦗd in Buriram that he did not expect to receive a♑ny further new parts this season and so is focussed on trying set-up and riding changes.

“We head to Japan looking fo﷽r more aft๊er two difficult weekends," said Lorenzo, who finished 20th and 18th in Aragon and Buriram.

"Myself and the team have some ideas to try for the 🀅bike in Motegi which will hopefully allow us to get back to where we need to be.

"I have some good memories at the track and it will be special to race in front o🌃f the Japanese crowd for t𓄧he first time as a Honda rider.”

Lorenzo's troubles mean that despite team-mate Marc Ma💖rquez claiming 14 podiums from 15 rounds, including nin𒐪e wins, Repsol Honda is trailing Ducati in the teams' standings by 19 points.