Lucio Cecchinello is not sparing himself at the moment to ensure that there are two motorcycles in his box next year. If possible two Hondas with Cal Crutchlow as the first driver who will have to be convinced to stay. Because the Briton wants an official contract. At 31 years old and after having torn up the one he had signed in his time with Ducati. Not easy therefore and as complicated as finding the ideal candidate for what would be the second RC213V. You have to please both HRC and the main sponsor. Until then, two names held the rope. Here's a third!
The boss of the LCR team is working behind the scenes of MotoGP to determine as quickly as possible what his box will be made of in 2018. Twenty-fourth place on the starting grid is up for grabs and logically it should go to him. But for that, you have to find money and convince a manufacturer. In this case Honda. On this last point, as if to top it all off, he is in direct competition with the team Marc VDS which already has the budget and an official driver in its ranks: Jack Miller.
Nothing is therefore acquired. On the driver side, the rumor agrees on two desired drivers: Franco Morbidelli, Italian and current leader of the Moto2 championship, but under Marc VDS contract. And Takaaki Nakagami, also in Moto2, who is Japanese… And especially Japanese! But now a third thief has declared himself: Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia.
He is 20 years old, he is transalpine, he is also in the fold of VR46 and he starts in Moto2 after having learned the profession in Moto3 which he left after two victories on a Mahindra. Currently fifth in his championship with 33 points, he had his best race so far in Jerez with a second place. Not bad, but wouldn't it be a little early for Pecco?
Lucio responds on speedweek: " our sponsor Givi would like us to have an Italian as second driver. Visenzi, the boss of Givi, appreciates Morbidelli, it's a reality, but Bagnaia also performs well ". So here he is in the ranks. What do you think Valentino Rossi ? To be continued…
