motorsport.com is reporting that Johann Zarco is set to replace Takaaki Nakagami in his LCR Honda Idemitsu seat for the final three rounds of 2019. The article states that Nakagami, despite having taken an impressive step forward this year, will be undertaking surgery on his shoulder following his home race at Motegi - suffering a similar problem to that which led newly-crowned World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to undergo surgery before the season began.
That will mean LCR are in need of a replacement rider, and according to motorsport.com, that rider will be Zarco. The Frenchman has been on the sidelines since he and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing parted ways ahead of the Aragon GP, although the he remains under contract with the Austrian factory. The article reporting his call up for duty at LCR does, however, also cite KTM motorsport boss’ Pit Beirer’s earlier assertion that he would allow Zarco to ride for a rival before the contract officially ends at the end of this year...