Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1510207
VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P115 former double Moto2 Champion has also insisted that he prefers his two-year LRC contract to acting as a short-stay stop-gap for the factory. But HRC could possibly muscle into changing their minds. Miguel Oliveira's name keeps cropping up. Another rider who combines race-winning skill, experience, and a keen intel - ligence. And a resentment at being dropped by KTM last year. He spurned KTM's satellite-team offer, preferring a fresh start, albeit with the same status, with Aprilia. But he makes no secret of his urge to be back in a fac - tory team. Iker Lecuona has done some substitute rides. The Spaniard has the enthusiasm if not much of a track record but could at least rack up many laps to test the pieces. He has the advan - tage of the willing enthusiasm of a nearly-there rider anxious for any opportunity. Also available is Pol Esparga- ro, just dropped by KTM in favor of Pedro Acosta. But this is not to be taken seriously. Neither he nor the Repsol team will be keen to replay his crash-strewn last two years there. Nobody would want to see that again. With Marc's own switch to the private Gresini team, there's another rider suddenly on the job market at a late stage of the season. Fabio Di Giannantonio has had only a few high points in two seasons in the big class. Handily enough, aside from a few strong qualifying laps, most of them have been in the last two races. The 25-year-old scored two top 10s in India, then in Indonesia, followed them up with seventh in the sprint, and a career-best fourth on Sunday. Good for the shop window for a needy rider. And a handy chance for a needy team. So, the plot thickens. Free from the need to pay Marc, Honda's budget will surely have heaved a sigh of relief. (Perhaps even boosted by any penalty he might have to pay for breaking his four-year deal ear - ly.) There'll be plenty for any of the above to consider sacrificing hopes of short-term success in exchange for the chance to help Honda get back to winning form. And the cash. But not all the potential torch - bearers are riders. One thing Marc did speak about earlier this year was the need for Honda to change their conservative way of working by recruiting (which is to say "poaching") some of the talent that has driven the European resurgence. HRC acknowledged this at least obliquely by moving long- time director Shinichi Kokubu out of the team—he has had senior roles in HRC since the 1990s. Ducati chief Gigi Dall'Igna revealed before the Indonesian round that he had turned down a big-money offer to jump ship. Having turned Ducati around, he didn't have the stomach to do the same for Honda. Too much of a challenge? Or perhaps be - cause he felt he would not have the same absolute authority he has at Ducati, where he can pretty much do as he pleases. There are other engineers, but none so notable. All the same, you can be sure that team man - ager Alberto Puig is knocking on doors. There is another equally important name, neither rider nor engineer. Carmelo Ezpeleta, boss of Dorna. As always, he has a crucial role. Even before the Marquez bombshell, Carmelo had put forward the idea to give both surviving Japanese factories concessions on (among other things) free engine develop - ment and unlimited testing—the facilities that helped Ducati and Aprilia (and Suzuki) become competitive. Rather unsportingly, Ducati is not keen, and decisions by the GPMA manufacturers' associa- tion must of needs be unani- mous. But in the end, Ezpeleta is the boss. The most important candi- date? Marc Marquez. He has signed only one year with Ducati. If Honda shows a turnaround next year, he can return with a whole lot of Ducati information in his pocket and all his determination and talent intact. Stranger things have hap - pened. CN