LCR admit MotoGP expansion plan likely to be delayed

An expansion plan by the LCR Honda squad to a two-rider effort next year seems certain to be delayed until the 2015 MotoGP campaign.

Before the start of the current season Italian team boss Lucio Cecchinello outlined plans to possibly increase his involvement by purchasing a production Honda RC213V to develop a young rider in the premier class.

Those plans are likely to be put on hold and Cecchinello told MCN: “We are still interested in having a second rider for the future and it will be amazing to do that in 2014. But firstly we have to secure the correct budget for next year for one rider with the prototype machine and the reality is that we are still negotiating with our sponsors.”

Rider choice is also behind Cecchinello’s potential decision to abandon his expansion plan alongside German Stefan Bradl next season and he added: “We are interested to do this project to please Honda who are extremely interested in emerging markets and are keen to pursue some opportunity with an Asian or South American rider.

But we need to be sure that the rider will be competitive and the reality is there is not really one coming. So I am not sure if I will be able to realise my dream in 2014, not only for budget reasons but also for the rider.”