LCR HONDA RE-
SIGNS NAKAGAMI
U
nsurprising news came in the week before
the Japanese GP, when it was confirmed
that Takaaki Nakagami's contract with the LCR
Honda team has been renewed for 2019.
Backed by Japanese petroleum firm Idemitsu,
former Moto2 race winner Nakagami has made
a worthwhile MotoGP debut, scoring points in
seven races, though lagging behind fellow ex-
Moto2 class rookies Franco Morbidelli (EG VDS
Honda) and Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha).
Each has finished in the top 10 once, and both
are disputing the Rookie of the Year position.
Michael Scott
VOL. 55 ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 23, 2018 P45
FOLGER ON COMEBACK TRAIL
F
uture Yamaha test rider Jonas Folger
will be back on a MotoGP bike at official
tests in the days after the Valencia GP in
mid-November, as he commences duties
for the currently winless manufacturer.
This was confirmed to Dorna by Movistar
Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli.
Folger was forced to withdraw unexpect-
edly from the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
satellite team during the 2017-18 winter
break with troubling health issues. He was
diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, a rare
and debilitating disorder. He was replaced
by Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin, but during
this season he was confirmed as the rider
for Yamaha's planned new Europe-based
MotoGP testing squad.
The 2019 season officially starts directly
after the last round in Valencia, with group tests at
the same circuit.
Former 125, Moto3 and Moto2 race winner
Folger made his MotoGP debut with the Tech 3
team last year, and shone with a strong challenge
to Marquez at the German GP, where he finished
second. But in the latter part of the season, his
results suffered as his health took a turn for the
worse.
Michael Scott
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
Takaaki
Nakagami's
contract
with the LCR
Honda team
has been
renewed for
2019.
Jonas Folger
plans to be
back testing
bikes in
November.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
