MotoGP, Nakagami shakes Honda: “Let’s hope they learn to listen to the riders”

The MotoGP weekend in Indonesia opened with the news of Marc Marquez’s signing on with the Gresini team for next year. The confirmation of a rumor that had been around for some time, but it still affected the entire paddock, starting with the other riders. Among these was Takaaki Nakagami.

“His farewell to the team and the move to Ducati was a shock, but we still have six races to go. The goal is to end 2023 well and then start thinking about next season. For example, we’ll have to understand who’ll be responsible for the development of the 2024 bike,” he said.  

There are still many unknowns for the upcoming championship and, with this start, they’ll probably multiply. “I hope that management will pay more attention to the indications and advice of the riders, not just the factory ones. It would be a good thing to have more responsibility,” he added, urging Honda’s top management, which is notoriously unwilling to follow the demands of the riders.

“I personally hope I can count for more, even if I’m not an official rider. I’ve been here since 2018, and I know both the RC213V and its evolutions pretty well,” he reiterated the concept before denying the possibility of a switch to the HRC. “I practically have zero chances, but I feel good in the LCR, and I believe in the project.”

Finally, the Japanese rider dedicated a few words to the appointment on Friday morning. “It’s a pleasure to be in Mandalika. That said, it’ll be a nice challenge because the tires chosen are different from the last races, both in terms of the front and the rear. The first test session will be crucial in understanding the conditions of the asphalt and whether our bike adapts well to the tires. We’ll work, round after round, starting from these sensations,” he concluded.