Both Alex Marquez and Lucio Cecchinello have spoken out for the first time since news broke this morning that the two-time World Champion would be stepping back into the LCR Honda squad to make room for the incoming Pol Espargaro at Repsol Honda in 2021. The news also confirmed that Cal Crutchlow would be leaving Cecchinello's team after six seasons together, with the Italian confirming that the Briton's exit is because they are "embarking on another project alongside Honda".
Reigning Moto2™ World Champion, Marquez, said the following on his move to LCR Honda next season: "I am very proud to announce my renewal with Honda Racing Corporation. HRC gave me the opportunity to arrive in MotoGP and I am glad to join the LCR Honda Team at the end of 2020 and compete in a big team with great experience in MotoGP.
"I want to thank HRC and the LCR Honda Team for their trust in me to be able to continue in the Honda family and I will work hard to prove their confidence with results. Now, I am eager to start the season in Jerez and I am completely focused to give my best this year."
Meanwhile, Cecchinello says that he is "proud that HRC has assigned us the task of helping [Alex] take his next important steps in his MotoGP racing career", whilst also describing the Spaniard as "undoubtedly a star of the future".
"First and foremost I’d like to say that we are fully focused on the campaign ahead and look forward to a successful 2020," started Cecchinello. "In Cal and Taka we have two fantastic riders who we believe in fully to shine in the shortened MotoGP season. We are delighted to welcome Alex Marquez into our team next season. Alex is a two-time World Champion, a truly exciting prospect, and we are very happy and definitely proud that HRC has assigned us the task of helping him take his next important steps in his MotoGP racing career.
Muy contento de poder anunciar la renovación con #Honda HRC por dos años más en la familia del @lcr_team! ????
— Alex Márquez (@alexmarquez73) July 13, 2020
Very happy to announce my renewal with #Honda HRC for two more years in the @lcr_team family!#AM73 pic.twitter.com/2tlU3PBsYw
"Over recent seasons LCR’s position as one of the leading independent teams in the MotoGP class has been confirmed with 12 podiums and three stunning victories for Cal Crutchlow. The team is excited about embarking on another project alongside Honda, and as ever we will do our very best to prepare someone who will undoubtedly be a star of MotoGP in the future."
Although nothing is official yet, Marquez's LCR Honda teammate in 2021 looks certain to be Japan's Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu LCR Honda), due to Crutchlow's exit from the factory now being confirmed. Where will the three-time MotoGP™ race winner end up? He has been strongly linked with a move to the factory Aprilia garage and, with options now limited, a move to the Noale squad seems most likely.