Shock Honda-KTM move would solve a lot of MotoGP problems

It’s no secret that KTM has a serious problem for the 2024 MotoGP championship as it tries to squeeze five contracted riders into four seats.

And that’s before you even consider the option of poaching a deeply unhappy Marc Marquez away from Honda.

Previous solutions have been rejected out of hand – but a new suggestion might present the best way forward for all parties, and help another team out too.

Earlier this week German-language publication Speedweek, which enjoys a close relationship with both KTM and title sponsor Red Bull and is rarely wrong when it comes to reporting news out of KTM’s Salzburg headquarters, reported that KTM had a new option for adding bikes to the 2024 grid: stealing away not just Marquez from Honda but Honda’s satellite team LCR too.

It comes after previous efforts to expand to six bikes on the grid for next year were rejected, with series promoter Dorna seemingly nixing any plan to add additional KTM machines to the grid next year by refusing to allow it the use of the two extra grid spots vacated by Suzuki, which are now reserved for a theoretical full-factory entry in the future.

But, with the current Honda RC213V basically an unmitigated disaster despite LCR rider Alex Rins’ unexpected victory at the Circuit of the Americas earlier this year, it seems that KTM (or rather, parent group Pierer Mobility Group) has come knocking on LCR’s door to attempt to renew talks that originally started back in 2019.

Former racer Lucio Cecchinello’s team had discussions with KTM about becoming its first official satellite partner back then. That deal in the end instead went to Herve Poncharal’s Tech3 outfit as Cecchinello chose to remain loyal to Honda in a relationship that began in 125cc from 1996 to 1999 and resumed for LCR’s move into MotoGP with Casey Stoner in 2006.

However, as Honda continues to struggle to produce a competitive bike, Speedweek suggests that KTM sees this as the time to restart talks, with an aim of potentially buying out the team for next season – the latest in what seems like a series of contract buyouts as people desert Honda.

KTM’s plans have even been openly hinted at by Cecchinello himself, who admitted to Italian website GPone that initial talks had started with KTM.

He pointed out he had an outgoing Honda contract, but in a way that didn’t outright deny that the KTM plan is potentially an option for LCR.

“I want to be totally honest and transparent,” he told GPone.

“About 10 days ago I received a friendly phone call from Francesco Guidotti, the KTM team manager in which he told me, in a serene and autonomous way, that from the Silverstone GP, KTM would like to begin to understand how to move forward for the future.

“They are interested in fielding another team in MotoGP, not only in function of Acosta for next year.

“He asked me what my situation was for 2024 and I replied that I signed a three-year contract with Honda that will expire at the…