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LCR Team
View on WikipediaLucio Cecchinello Racing also known as LCR Team is a motorcycle racing team competing in the MotoGP World Championship under the name Castrol Honda LCR with Johann Zarco and Pro Honda LCR with Diogo Moreira.
Key Information
MotoGP
[edit]1996–2003: Lucio Cecchinello era
[edit]The team was established by Italian rider Lucio Cecchinello in 1996, with LCR being an initialism for Lucio Cecchinello Racing.
He set up his own team for the 125cc World Championship using Honda motorcycles, earning several top ten finishes. Similar results followed in the 1997.
Cecchinello-Ueda partnership with Hondas
[edit]In the 1998 season the team recruited two-time 125cc runner-up Noboru Ueda to ride alongside Cecchinello.
In only his second race for the team, Ueda got the team their first Grand Prix victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Johor Circuit.
Cecchinello's first win for his own team came later that year in Madrid Grand Prix at Jarama.
Cecchinello finished 5th in overall standings while Ueda only managed to finish 13th after missing half of the season due to injury.
Hiroyuki Kikuchi was drafted as Ueda's replacement during his absence.
The Cecchinello-Ueda partnership continued in 1999 and 2000, yielding another win by Ueda in 1999 Brazilian Grand Prix as well as numerous podiums for both riders.
Ueda finished both seasons in 5th position while Cecchinello struggled to match his teammates performance and was only able to finish in 9th and 11th position in those seasons.
Cecchinello-Jara partnership with Aprilias
[edit]In 2001 the team switched to Aprilia motorcycles.
The team also recruited the Spanish youngster Raúl Jara as Cecchinello's teammate.
Cecchinello's performance improved and he took the first win with Aprilia at the Catalan Grand Prix and finished the season 4th in overall standings.
Venturing into 250cc
[edit]In 2002 the team expanded their operation into 250cc class.
San Marinese rider Alex de Angelis was recruited to partner Cecchinello in 125cc, while the young Australian rookie, Casey Stoner and the Spanish David Checa were recruited to compete in 250cc class.
Cecchinello managed to repeat the last years performance and once again finished the season 4th in overall standing with 3 wins while De Angelis has his first career podium and finished 9th overall.
In the 250cc class, Stoner and Checa were able to achieve several top ten finish in the team's 250cc debut season.
Balancing between 125cc and 250cc
[edit]In 2003 the team continued their double assault in 125cc and 250cc.
Casey Stoner switched to the 125cc class to partner with Cecchinello, while French rider Randy de Puniet was recruited to ride in 250cc. Both teams had a successful season with 3 race wins in each class.
De Puniet, was also in contention for the World Championship. However, he only managed to finished 4th overall with three wins and nine podiums.
In 125cc, Cecchinello achieved two wins including a win in his home Grand Prix while Stoner achieved both his first career podium and his first career win with the team.
At the end of 2003, Cecchinello decided to end his racing career and concentrate in team management.
2004–2005: Post-Cecchinello era
[edit]In 2004 the team retained de Puniet to ride an official Aprilia factory bike in 250cc.
In the 125cc class, the team recruited two Italian riders, Roberto Locatelli, a former 125cc World Champion and rookie Mattia Pasini.
Both de Puniet and Locatelli had successful season and were in contention for the World Championship, although they were only managed to finish the season 3rd in overall standings.
De Puniet had 1 win and 8 podiums while Locatelli had 2 wins and 6 podiums.
250cc only days
[edit]For the 2005 season the team only competed in the 250cc class on Aprilia factory bikes.
Roberto Locatelli moved up to 250cc and Casey Stoner returned from his one-year stint at KTM.
Stoner managed to record five wins, 10 podiums and finished the season as runner-up to Dani Pedrosa.
Stoner's runner-up was the best result so far in the team history. He was also the first LCR rider to have 3+ race wins in a season.
2006–present: Move to MotoGP
[edit]Casey Stoner (2006) with Honda
[edit]In October 2005, the team, along with Casey Stoner, reportedly had an agreement to move to the MotoGP class in the upcoming season with support from Yamaha.[1][2]
After the season ended, Stoner received an offer from the Honda Pons team and tested the Honda RC211V bike with them at Valencia.[3] With Stoner leaving the team, LCR had to put their MotoGP project on hold.
However, in December 2005, Stoner unexpectedly became available again after Honda Pons failed to secure sponsorship for the upcoming season.[4] LCR immediately re-signed Stoner and made an agreement with HRC to run the RC211V in 2006.[5]
Stoner recorded the team's first pole position in only their second MotoGP race at the Qatar Grand Prix. The subsequent race in Turkey saw LCR and Stoner record their first podium in MotoGP.
Stoner competed with Marco Melandri the entire race, until Melandri managed to beat him to the line. Stoner went on to finish the season in 8th position with a series of top 10 results.
Stoner left the team for a Ducati factory ride in 2007.
Carlos Checa (2007)
[edit]Veteran Spanish rider Carlos Checa replaced him at the team, riding the new 800cc Honda RC212V.
However, the team was not able to repeat their 2006 results, as Checa struggled to adapt to the new 800cc bike and his best finish was a sixth place at the Spanish and San Marino Grands Prix.
Randy de Puniet (2008–10)
[edit]Randy de Puniet rejoined the team in 2008.
Again, the team struggled with the satellite bike and Michelin tyres. De Puniet's best finish was only sixth position at the United States Grand Prix.
He returned for the 2009 season, once again with the RC212V, but with Bridgestone tyres, as MotoGP shifted to a single tyre manufacturer rule.
In the British Grand Prix, De Puniet finished third, his best result with the team, and the team's first podium in the premier class since Stoner's 2006 podium.
In 2010, De Puniet finished the season in ninth place aboard a Honda RC212V, with his best result being a fourth place at the Catalan Grand Prix.
Toni Elias (2011)
[edit]After the departure of de Puniet to the Pramac Racing team, the team signed reigning Moto2 world champion Toni Elías for the 2011 season, and Elías finished 15th in the championship, finishing five races in the top ten.
Stefan Bradl (2012–14)
[edit]At the end of 2011, the team signed German rider Stefan Bradl, who had just won the Moto2 championship.
Bradl rode the all-new Honda RC213V, and had a good season, finishing consistently in the top-10.
His best result was a fourth-place finish at Mugello. He won the Rookie of the Year award, finishing eighth in the championship.
2013 was even better for Bradl, as he was consistently fighting for top five places.
Bradl took his first premier class pole position at the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.
He finished second in the race, his first MotoGP podium. However a broken ankle sustained in a crash in Malaysia cost him a top five finish in the final championship standings. Bradl eventually finished the season in seventh place.
2 bikes expansion (2015)
[edit]Midway through the 2014 season, it was announced that LCR would expand to a two-bike satellite Honda team in 2015.
The team's second bike is an open-specification Honda RC213V-RS, "replacing" Gresini Racing, as they will become an Aprilia factory team.
The team also announced a partnership with foreign exchange trading company CWM FX represented by British rider Cal Crutchlow on a factory-specification Honda RC213V bike, and Australian rookie Jack Miller, riding the open-specification RC213V-RS.
After the 2015 Czech Republic Grand Prix, CWM pulled out of the team due to fraud allegations following a police raid in March 2015.
The sponsorship was run by their long-term sponsor, Givi. At Sepang, Crutchlow's bike represented a new livery from Castrol.
Cal Crutchlow and first MotoGP victory (2016–2017)
[edit]Miller left the team in 2016 to join Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, leaving Crutchlow as the sole rider for LCR in 2016.
Crutchlow started the season poorly, with four DNFs and one finish outside the points in the first eight races, leaving him outside the top 15 of the standings. He then finished second in the German Grand Prix before taking his first victory in Brno just two races later.
This was LCR's first ever win in the premier class, and also was the first race win by a British rider in the 500cc/MotoGP class since Barry Sheene at the 1981 Swedish Grand Prix.
His victory in Brno was also part of MotoGP's record of eight different riders winning in eight successive races, with Crutchlow's Brno victory being the sixth in the streak.
He then scored another podium in Silverstone before taking another victory at Phillip Island, making him the first Briton ever to win the Australian Grand Prix.
He ended the year with 141 points, finishing seventh in the championship.
In 2017, Crutchlow scored one podium finish and was ninth in the riders' world championship.
Re-expansion to two bikes (2018–2020)
[edit]For 2018, LCR Team signed Japanese rookie Takaaki Nakagami to partner Crutchlow.
The team ran separate liveries with different main sponsors for each rider, Castrol for Crutchlow and Idemitsu for Nakagami.
Nakagami's best finish was sixth place at the season finale in Valencia, ultimately finishing 20th in the riders' championship.
Crutchlow started the year with a win in Argentina and scored podium finishes in Misano and Motegi. He had to finish the season early after a crash at the Australian GP, fracturing his leg and missing the final three races of the season.
Crutchlow finished the season with 148 points and seventh in the riders' championship.
Former LCR rider Stefan Bradl replaced Crutchlow for the final two races.
In 2019, Crutchlow achieved three podiums and finished 9th in the championship.
Nakagami improved to 13th place, despite missing the final three rounds of the season to undergo surgery. He was replaced in the final three rounds by Johann Zarco.
Nakagami and Crutchlow defended the LCR colours in 2020, and at the end of the year the British decided to retire.
Struggles with Honda RC213V (2021–2024)
[edit]In 2021, Álex Márquez joined Nakagami and repeated the experience in 2022, both riders struggling to show their true potential.
For the 2023 season, Álex Rins has joined forces with Nakagami. Álex Rins won the 2023 Grand Prix of the Americas.
For the 2024 season, Johann Zarco replaced Álex Rins, while Nakagami continued with the team.
Nakagami leaves LCR Team (2025)
[edit]With Nakagami leaving LCR, Johann Zarco would partner with Thai rookie Somkiat Chantra in 2025.
Johann Zarco became the first Honda race winner since Álex Rins in the 2023 Grand Prix of the Americas by winning the 2025 French GP by taking advantage of the changeable conditions, in doing so becoming the first French winner of the French Grand Prix since 1954 with Pierre Monneret, he also became the first ever French winner at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans, as well as the first non-Ducati Winner since Maverick Vinales winning the 2024 Grand Prix of the Americas.
Chantra will depart the team at the end of 2025, joining the Honda HRC team in the World Superbike Championship. He is set to be replaced by Diogo Moreira.
2026–present: Zarco and Moreira era
[edit]For the 2026 season, the team retained Johann Zarco and promoted the 2025 Moto2 World Champion Diogo Moreira to the premier class, replacing Somkiat Chantra. Moreira's promotion marked a significant youth investment for the team, pairing the Brazilian rookie with the veteran Frenchman.[6]
In February 2026, LCR Honda announced a strategic three-year partnership with digital sports media platform GOD55 Sports as a Premium Sponsor. The agreement, covering the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons, included branding placement on the Honda RC213V bikes of both riders. The partnership also featured special livery activations, with Johann Zarco scheduled to run a dedicated GOD55 Sports livery at the Italian Grand Prix and the Indonesian Grand Prix.[7]
Team Principal Lucio Cecchinello cited the partnership as a key move to engage with the Southeast Asian motorsport audience.[6]
MotoE
[edit]As a satellite team in MotoGP, LCR was invited to enter the inaugural MotoE season with Niccolò Canepa and former LCR 250cc and MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet.
In 2020, de Puniet was replaced on the MotoE team by Belgian Xavier Siméon.
For 2021, 2022 and 2023, the LCR E-Team is competing in the electric series with the duo set by Eric Granado and Miquel Pons, both showing strong performances on board their bikes.
Results
[edit]Grand Prix motorcycle racing
[edit]By rider
[edit]| Year | Class | Team name | Bike | Riders | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | F. laps | Points | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 125cc | Honda Team GP3 | Honda RS125R |  Lucio Cecchinello
|
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 15th |
| 1997 | Spidi Honda LCR | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 14th | |||
| 1998 | Givi Honda LCR | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 130 | 5th | |||
 Noboru Ueda
|
8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 13th | ||||
| Hiroyuki Kikuchi
|
6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 15th | ||||
| 1999 | Noboru Ueda
|
16 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 171 | 5th | |||
| Lucio Cecchinello
|
16 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 108 | 9th | ||||
| 2000 | Noboru Ueda
|
16 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 153 | 5th | |||
| Lucio Cecchinello
|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 11th | ||||
| 2001 | MS Aprilia LCR | Aprilia RS125R | Lucio Cecchinello
|
16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 156 | 4th | |
 Raúl Jara
|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 26th | ||||
| 2002 | 250cc | Safilo Oxydo Race LCR | Aprilia RSV 250 |  Casey Stoner
|
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 12th |
| David Checa
|
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 13th | ||||
| 125cc | Aprilia RS125R | Lucio Cecchinello
|
16 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 180 | 4th | ||
 Alex de Angelis
|
16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 9th | ||||
| 2003 | 250cc | Safilo Oxydo – LCR | Aprilia RSV 250 |  Randy de Puniet
|
16 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 208 | 4th |
| 125cc | Aprilia RS125R | Casey Stoner
|
14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 125 | 8th | ||
| Lucio Cecchinello
|
16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 9th | ||||
| 2004 | 250cc | Safilo Carrera – LCR | Aprilia RSV 250 | Randy de Puniet
|
16 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 214 | 3rd |
| 125cc | Aprilia RS125R | Roberto Locatelli
|
16 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 192 | 3rd | ||
| Mattia Pasini
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 15th | |||||
| 2005 | 250cc | Carrera Sunglasses – LCR | Aprilia RSV 250 | Casey Stoner
|
16 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 254 | 2nd |
| Roberto Locatelli
|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 13th | ||||
| 2006 | MotoGP | Honda LCR | Honda RC211V | Casey Stoner
|
16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 119 | 8th |
| 2007 | Carlos Checa
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 14th | |||
| 250cc | Honda RS250R |  Eugene Laverty
|
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 25th | ||
| 2008 | MotoGP | LCR Honda MotoGP | Honda RC212V | Randy de Puniet
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 15th |
| 2009 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 11th | ||||
| 2010 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 9th | ||||
 Roger Lee Hayden
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19th | ||||
| 2011 | Toni Elías
|
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 15th | |||
| Kousuke Akiyoshi
|
1 (2)[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (7)[a] | 20th | ||||
| Ben Bostrom
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||||
| 2012 | Honda RC213V |  Stefan Bradl
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 8th | ||
| 2013 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 156 | 7th | ||||
| 2014 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 9th | ||||
| 2015 | CWM LCR Honda LCR Honda |
 Cal Crutchlow
|
18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 125 | 8th | ||
| Honda RC213V-RS | Jack Miller
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 19th | |||
| 2016 | LCR Honda | Honda RC213V | Cal Crutchlow
|
18 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 141 | 7th | |
| 2017 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 9th | ||||
| 2018 | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Takaaki Nakagami
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 20th | ||
| LCR Honda Castrol | Cal Crutchlow
|
15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 148 | 7th | |||
| Stefan Bradl
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 24th | ||||
| 2019 | MotoGP | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Takaaki Nakagami
|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 13th | |
| Johann Zarco
|
3 (16)[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (30)[a] | 18th | ||||
| LCR Honda Castrol | Cal Crutchlow
|
19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 9th | |||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Energica Ego Corsa | Niccolò Canepa
|
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 9th | |
| Randy de Puniet
|
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 17th | ||||
| 2020 | MotoGP | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Honda RC213V | Takaaki Nakagami
|
14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 116 | 10th |
| LCR Honda Castrol | Cal Crutchlow
|
11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 18th | |||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Energica Ego Corsa | Niccolò Canepa
|
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 9th | |
 Xavier Siméon
|
7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 10th | ||||
| 2021 | MotoGP | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Honda RC213V | Takaaki Nakagami
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 15th |
| LCR Honda Castrol | Álex Márquez
|
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 16th | |||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Energica Ego Corsa | Kevin Zannoni
|
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 12th | |
| Miquel Pons
|
6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 7th | ||||
| 2022 | MotoGP | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Honda RC213V | Takaaki Nakagami
|
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 18th |
| Tetsuta Nagashima
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29th | ||||
| LCR Honda Castrol | Álex Márquez
|
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 17th | |||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Energica Ego Corsa |  Eric Granado
|
12 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 192.5 | 2nd | |
| Miquel Pons
|
12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 124 | 5th | ||||
| 2023 | MotoGP | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Honda RC213V | Takaaki Nakagami
|
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 18th |
| LCR Honda Castrol | Álex Rins
|
7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 19th | |||
| Stefan Bradl
|
3 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (8) | 26th | ||||
| Iker Lecuona
|
5 (7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30th | ||||
| Takumi Takahashi
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Ducati V21L | Eric Granado
|
14 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 139 | 7th | |
| Miquel Pons
|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 12th | ||||
| 2024 | MotoGP | Castrol Honda LCR | Honda RC213V | Johann Zarco
|
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 17th |
| Idemitsu Honda LCR | Takaaki Nakagami
|
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 19th | |||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Ducati V21L | Mattia Casadei
|
16 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 231 | 2nd | |
| Eric Granado
|
16 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 112 | 10th | ||||
| 2025 | MotoGP | Castrol Honda LCR | Honda RC213V | Johann Zarco
|
18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 128* | 10th* |
| Idemitsu Honda LCR |  Somkiat Chantra
|
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6* | 26th* | |||
| Takaaki Nakagami
|
0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (10)* | 22nd* | ||||
| MotoE | LCR E-Team | Ducati V21L | Mattia Casadei
|
12 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 155* | 2nd* | |
| Eric Granado
|
11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 142* | 5th* |
* Season still in progress.
MotoGP results
[edit]By season
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Bike | Tyres | No. | Riders | Race | Riders' standings | Teams' standings | Manufacturers' standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Pts | Pos | Pts | Pos | Pts | Pos | |||||||||
| 2006 | Honda RC211V | M | ESP | QAT | TUR | CHN | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | USA | CZE | MAL | AUS | JPN | POR | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Casey Stoner
|
6 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | Ret | Ret | 4 | 4 | DNS | Ret | 6 | 8 | 6 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 119 | 8th | 119 | 8th | 360 | 1st | ||||||||||||
| 2007 | Honda RC212V | QAT | ESP | TUR | CHN | FRA | ITA | CAT | GBR | NED | GER | USA | CZE | SMR | POR | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Carlos Checa
|
Ret | 6 | 12 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 17 | Ret | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 65 | 14th | 65 | 9th | 313 | 2nd | |||||||||||
| 2008 | QAT | ESP | POR | CHN | FRA | ITA | CAT | GBR | NED | GER | USA | CZE | SMR | IND | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Randy de Puniet
|
9 | Ret | 15 | 13 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | 8 | 6 | 16 | Ret | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 61 | 15th | 61 | 10th | 315 | 3rd | |||||||||||
| 2009 | Honda RC212V | B | QAT | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | USA | GER | GBR | CZE | IND | SMR | POR | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Randy de Puniet
|
10 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Ret | 3 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | Ret | 11 | 106 | 11th | 106 | 9th | 297 | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | QAT | ESP | FRA | ITA | GBR | NED | CAT | GER | USA | CZE | IND | SMR | ARA | JPN | MAL | AUS | POR | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Randy de Puniet
|
6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | Ret | 10 | 13 | 13 | Ret | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 116 | 9th | 121 | 7th | 342 | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| 95 | Roger Lee Hayden
|
11 | 5 | 19th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | QAT | ESP | POR | FRA | CAT | GBR | NED | ITA | GER | USA | CZE | IND | SMR | ARA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Toni Elías
|
Ret | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 8 | C | 10 | 61 | 15th | 61 | 10th | 405 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 23 | Ben Bostrom
|
Ret | 0 | NC | N/a | N/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | Kousuke Akiyoshi
|
12 | 4 (7) | 20th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Honda RC213V | QAT | ESP | POR | FRA | CAT | GBR | NED | GER | ITA | USA | IND | CZE | SMR | ARA | JPN | MAL | AUS | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Stefan Bradl
|
8 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | Ret | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 135 | 8th | 135 | 7th | 412 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 2013 | QAT | AME | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | USA | IND | CZE | GBR | SMR | ARA | MAL | AUS | JPN | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Stefan Bradl
|
Ret | 5 | Ret | 10 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | DNS | DNS | 5 | 6 | 156 | 7th | 156 | 6th | 389 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 2014 | QAT | AME | ARG | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | IND | CZE | GBR | SMR | ARA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Stefan Bradl
|
Ret | 4 | 5 | 10 | 7 | Ret | 5 | 10 | 16 | Ret | 7 | 7 | Ret | 4 | 7 | Ret | 4 | 8 | 117 | 9th | 117 | 8th | 409 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 2015 | QAT | AME | ARG | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | IND | CZE | GBR | SMR | ARA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Honda RC213V | 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | 7 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 125 | 8th | 142 | 7th | 355 | 2nd | ||||||||||
| Honda RC213V-RS | 43 | Jack Miller
|
Ret | 14 | 12 | 20 | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 19 | Ret | 12 | 19 | Ret | 15 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 19th | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Honda RC213V | M | QAT | ARG | AME | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | AUT | CZE | GBR | SMR | ARA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
Ret | Ret | 16 | 11 | Ret | 11 | 6 | Ret | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | Ret | Ret | 141 | 7th | 141 | 8th | 369 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 2017 | QAT | ARG | AME | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | CZE | AUT | GBR | SMR | ARA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
Ret | 3 | 4 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 11 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 15 | 8 | 112 | 9th | 112 | 8th | 357 | 1st | |||||||||||
| 2018 | QAT | ARG | AME | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | CZE | AUT | GBR | SMR | ARA | THA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
17 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 18 | Ret | 19 | Ret | 17 | 15 | C | 13 | 12 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 33 | 20th | 191 | 7th | 375 | 1st | ||||||||||
| 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
4 | 1 | 19 | Ret | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 4 | C | 3 | Ret | 7 | 2 | DNS | 148 | 7th | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Stefan Bradl
|
13 | 9 | 10 | 24th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | QAT | ARG | AME | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GER | CZE | AUT | GBR | SMR | ARA | THA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Johann Zarco
|
13 | Ret | Ret | 3 (30) | 18th | 210 | 7th | 426 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
9 | 7 | 10 | 9 | Ret | 5 | 8 | Ret | 14 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 74 | 13th | |||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
3 | 13 | Ret | 8 | 9 | 8 | Ret | 7 | 3 | 5 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 6 | 12 | 5 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 133 | 9th | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | SPA | ANC | CZE | AUT | STY | RSM | EMI | CAT | FRA | ARA | TER | EUR | VAL | POR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 4 | Ret | 5 | 116 | 10th | 148 | 8th | 144 | 5th | |||||||||||||||
| 35 | Cal Crutchlow
|
DNS | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | DNS | 10 | Ret | 8 | 11 | Ret | 13 | 13 | 32 | 18th | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | QAT | DOH | POR | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | GER | NED | STY | AUT | GBR | ARA | RSM | AME | MAL | ALG | VAL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
Ret | 17 | 10 | 4 | 7 | Ret | 13 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 11 | Ret | 76 | 15th | 146 | 7th | 214 | 4th | |||||||||||
| 73 | Álex Márquez
|
Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 6 | 14 | 11 | Ret | 14 | 9 | 9 | 8 | Ret | 15 | 12 | Ret | 4 | 13 | 70 | 16th | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | QAT | INA | ARG | AME | POR | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | RSM | ARA | JPN | THA | AUS | MAL | VAL | ||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
10 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 12 | 13 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 20 | 14 | 48 | 18th | 98 | 10th | 155 | 6th | ||||||||||||
| 45 | Tetsuta Nagashima
|
22 | 19 | Ret | 0 | 29th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Álex Márquez
|
Ret | 13 | 15 | Ret | 7 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | Ret | 15 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 8 | Ret | 17 | 17 | 50 | 17th | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | POR | ARG | AME | SPA | FRA | ITA | GER | NED | GBR | AUT | CAT | RSM | IND | JPN | INA | AUS | THA | MAL | QAT | VAL | ||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
12 | 13 | Ret | 9 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 56 | 18th | 116 | 10th | 185 | 5th | |||||||||
| 42 | Álex Rins
|
10 | 9 | 12 | Ret | Ret | DNS | WD | 9 | DNS | Ret | 54 | 19th | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Stefan Bradl
|
13 | 15 | 14 | 6 (8) | 26th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Iker Lecuona
|
17 | 20 | 16 | 16 | Ret | 0 | 30th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Takumi Takahashi
|
DNQ | 0 | NC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | QAT | POR | AME | SPA | FRA | CAT | ITA | NED | GER | GBR | AUT | ARA | RSM | EMI | INA | JPN | AUS | THA | MAL | SLD | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Johann Zarco
|
12 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 12 | 16 | 19 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 98 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 55 | 17th | 86 | 10th | 75 | 5th | |||||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
19 | 14 | Ret | 14 | 14 | 14 | Ret | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 13 | Ret | 17 | 31 | 19th | |||||||||||||
| 2025 | THA | ARG | AME | QAT | SPA | FRA | GBR | ARA | ITA | NED | GER | CZE | AUT | HUN | CAT | RSM | JPN | INA | AUS | MAL | POR | VAL | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Johann Zarco
|
7 | 64 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 25 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret7 | 138 | 129 | Ret | Ret7 | 16 | 9 | 12 | Ret | 128 | 97 | 12 | 148 | 12th | 155 | 10th | 285 | 4th | |||||||
| 30 | Takaaki Nakagami
|
DNS | 0 (10) | 23rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Somkiat Chantra
|
18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | Ret | 19 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 26th | ||||||||||||||||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Cecchinello on Stoner's title ambitions and future". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Stoner '50–50' for MotoGP". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Stoner 'at the front within two years'". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Stoner signs for Cecchinello!". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 13 December 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Stoner moves up, confirmed at LCR". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Honda LCR Team welcomes on board Premium Sponsor GOD55 Sports – Honda LCR Team". Retrieved 2026-02-10.
- ^ "GOD55 Sports | GOD55 Sports Honored to Partner With Honda LCR Team in MotoGP". www.god55sports.com. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
External links
[edit]| MotoGP | |
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| Grand Prix motorcycle |
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LCR Team
View on GrokipediaOverview
Founding and Early Development
Lucio Cecchinello, an Italian motorcycle racer, began his Grand Prix career in the 125cc class in 1993 at the age of 19, riding a Honda NS125R and scoring his first points the following year at Hockenheim.[6] Over the next several years in the 125cc category through 2000, he achieved consistent top-ten finishes and secured his first Grand Prix victory in 1998 at Jarama, eventually amassing seven wins and 19 podiums while competing against emerging talents.[7] In 2001, Cecchinello transitioned to the 250cc class with Aprilia, finishing fourth in the World Championship in both 2001 and 2002, before retiring from full-time racing at the end of 2003 after a victory at Mugello.[7][8] Inspired by his successes, including the 1995 European 125cc Championship, Cecchinello founded Lucio Cecchinello Racing (LCR) in 1996 as a privateer team to compete in the 125cc World Championship, initially serving as both rider and team principal—a rare dual role in the paddock.[9][1] The team was established with modest beginnings, comprising just two mechanics and one van, and relied on Honda machinery for its entries, reflecting Cecchinello's established relationship with the Japanese manufacturer from his riding career.[10] Headquartered in Monaco to leverage favorable logistics and tax benefits for a small operation, LCR entered its first races in the 125cc class that year, marking the start of a gradual expansion from a one-bike outfit.[11] Early sponsorships were secured from medium-sized Italian companies such as Rizoma and Givi, which provided essential support for equipment and visibility, though the team operated primarily on a shoestring budget without major corporate backing initially.[9] As a fledgling privateer squad, LCR faced significant operational challenges, including balancing limited financial resources with the demands of international travel and technical development, all while Cecchinello managed both on-track performance and administrative duties.[10] These hurdles tested the team's resilience but laid the foundation for its growth into higher classes in subsequent years.Team Structure and Partnerships
The LCR Team is led by its founder and team principal, Lucio Cecchinello, who oversees all operational, strategic, and developmental aspects of the organization. Cecchinello, a former Grand Prix rider with seven victories and 19 podiums from 1993 to 2003, established the team in 1996 and transitioned to full-time management thereafter, emphasizing a hands-on, dedication-driven approach that prioritizes rider development and long-term stability. As President of the IRTA (International Road-Racing Teams Association) since May 2025, he contributes to broader MotoGP governance while maintaining a management style focused on independent decision-making and resilience in facing challenges.[7][12] Headquartered in Monte Carlo, Monaco, at 7 Rue du Gabian, the team operates from a compact yet efficient base that supports its global racing activities. The staff composition has evolved significantly since the team's early days with just two mechanics; as of 2025, it includes 46 personnel from 13 countries, comprising specialized engineers for bike setup and data analysis, mechanics for on-site maintenance, and support roles in logistics and business development. This structure allows for agile operations, with technical expertise increasingly aligned closer to Honda's factory standards to optimize performance.[1][13] The LCR Team's primary technical alliance is with Honda, dating back to the team's inception in 1996, though its current satellite status in the MotoGP premier class solidified in 2006. As a Honda satellite outfit, LCR receives factory-specification RC213V prototypes, providing access to the same 1,000cc V4 engines and components used by the official Honda HRC team, which enables competitive data sharing and development input.[14][15] Major sponsorships underpin the team's financial and branding framework, with Castrol serving as title sponsor for one RC213V since 2018, featuring prominent green-and-red livery and supplying lubricants essential for engine performance. Idemitsu, a Japanese petroleum company, titles the second bike since 2018, with blue-dominant branding that highlights its support for Asian rider development through Honda's programs, providing crucial funding for operations and rider salaries. These partnerships ensure operational sustainability without disclosing exact financial figures.[16][17][18] In 2015, LCR expanded from a single-bike operation to fielding two full-time entries, a move that doubled its grid presence and allowed for broader testing data to inform Honda collaborations. This growth necessitated larger staff and logistical resources but enhanced the team's competitiveness by enabling dual-rider comparisons and increased sponsor visibility, solidifying its role as a key satellite contributor.[15]MotoGP History
Inception and Lower Classes (1996–2005)
The LCR Team, founded by Italian rider Lucio Cecchinello in 1996, entered the Grand Prix paddock in the 125cc class with Cecchinello himself competing on a Honda RS125, marking the team's debut at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Shah Alam. As a small privateer outfit initially comprising just two mechanics and one van, the team focused on building experience in the lightweight category, with Cecchinello achieving multiple top-10 finishes in 1996 and 1997 to establish a foundation for growth.[1][19][17] During the 1998–2003 Cecchinello riding era, the team expanded its 125cc efforts through key partnerships with Honda, recruiting notable riders such as two-time 125cc championship runner-up Noboru Ueda to race alongside Cecchinello starting in 1998, where Ueda secured the team's first podium with third place at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. Other prominent Honda-backed riders included Daijiro Kato and Youichi Ui, contributing to consistent competitiveness and several additional podiums in the class, while the team balanced operations amid limited resources as a non-factory privateer. In 2002, sponsorship from eyewear company Safilo enabled the team's venture into the 250cc class using Aprilia machinery, with Jeremy McWilliams and Tetsuya Harada among the early participants, allowing LCR to run multi-bike efforts across both categories and achieve podium finishes in 250cc races despite the challenges of manufacturer integration and financial constraints. Cecchinello retired from riding at the end of 2003 after seven Grand Prix wins and 19 podiums in 125cc, shifting his focus fully to team management.[1][19][10] From 2004 to 2005, following Cecchinello's retirement, LCR transitioned to a 250cc-only program, retaining Aprilia support initially before preparing a return to Honda machinery, with riders including Sebastian Porto and Hector Barberá delivering consistent top-10 finishes and challenging for podiums in a highly competitive field. In 2005, rookie Casey Stoner joined on an Aprilia RSV250R, achieving the team's best 250cc result with second place overall in the championship, highlighted by multiple podiums including a win at Valencia. This period underscored the team's resilience as a privateer, navigating manufacturer switches from Honda in 125cc to Aprilia in 250cc and managing budgetary limitations that restricted expansion, yet laying the groundwork for the eventual move to the premier class.[1][17][19]Transition to MotoGP Premier Class (2006–2015)
In 2006, the LCR Team made its debut in the MotoGP premier class, entering Australian rookie Casey Stoner on a Honda RC211V as a satellite outfit supported by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). Stoner quickly showed promise, securing pole position at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix—his second MotoGP start—and achieving multiple top-5 finishes, including a standout second place at the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island. Despite these highlights, crashes in several races and a head injury from a high-speed accident at Mugello that forced him to miss the German Grand Prix disrupted his campaign, resulting in an eighth-place championship finish with 119 points.[20][21][22][23] The 2007 season brought Spanish veteran Carlos Checa to the team, who rode the all-new 800cc Honda RC212V amid MotoGP's shift to smaller-displacement prototypes for improved safety and closer racing. Checa delivered reliable performances with six top-10 finishes, including two sixth places at Jerez and Brno, but struggled with the bike's handling and power delivery, managing no podiums and concluding 14th in the standings. This year marked LCR's initial adaptation to the 800cc era, where the team leaned heavily on HRC's technical expertise for engine mapping and chassis tweaks to bridge the gap between satellite and factory specifications.[24][25][26][27][28] From 2008 to 2010, French rider Randy de Puniet anchored the squad on the RC212V, providing stability during the ongoing 800cc transition as Honda refined aerodynamics and electronics. De Puniet's tenure featured consistent top-10 results, with his strongest showings in 2010—including fourth places at Assen and Aragon—positioning him fifth in the championship midway through the season before a leg-breaking crash at the German Grand Prix dropped him to ninth overall with 116 points. The period underscored LCR's growing reliance on Honda's satellite program for shared data and parts, helping mitigate development costs while competing against factory teams.[29][30][31] Toni Elías, the 2010 Moto2 World Champion, joined LCR in 2011 on the RC212V but faced persistent reliability issues with the bike's engine and suspension, limiting him to sporadic top-10s and a best of fifth at Le Mans. These challenges contributed to a frustrating 15th-place finish in the riders' standings, highlighting the difficulties of integrating a new rider into an evolving satellite setup amid Honda's focus on factory dominance.[32][33] Stefan Bradl's arrival in 2012 as a Moto2 graduate brought fresh momentum, with the German earning Rookie of the Year honors through nine top-10 finishes on the RC213V prototype introduced that year. Bradl's highlight came in 2013 at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, where he secured third place in wet conditions—LCR's first MotoGP podium since entering the class—before ending the season 10th overall. His three-year run, extending into 2014 with further top-8 results like fourth at Mugello, exemplified the team's maturation in the 800cc era, bolstered by enhanced HRC collaboration on seamless-shift transmissions and tire management.[34][35][36]Expansion and Key Victories (2016–2020)
In 2015, LCR Honda prepared for and executed its initial expansion to a two-bike operation in MotoGP, fielding British rider Cal Crutchlow alongside Australian rookie Jack Miller on Honda RC213V machinery.[37] This marked the team's first full two-rider lineup since entering the premier class, supported by sponsorship from CWM and enhanced logistics to manage dual entries.[38] However, following the season, Miller transitioned to the Marc VDS team, leaving LCR to revert to a single-bike setup for 2016 with Crutchlow as the sole rider.[39] The 2016–2017 period solidified Crutchlow's role as LCR's cornerstone, delivering the team's breakthrough victories amid a challenging injury landscape. In August 2016, Crutchlow secured LCR's maiden MotoGP win at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno, mastering wet conditions to finish ahead of Ducati's Andrea Iannone and Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, ending a 35-year drought for a British premier-class victor.[40] He followed with a second triumph at the Australian Grand Prix in October, his first dry victory, capitalizing on Marc Márquez's crash to lead from lap 16 and beat Rossi by over five seconds.[41] Despite multiple crashes and recoveries—including a wrist injury from a Phillip Island test fall—Crutchlow achieved three podiums in 2017, such as second at Assen and Le Mans, while overcoming a severed finger tendon from a domestic accident that required surgery.[42] These efforts propelled him to fifth in the 2017 Riders' Championship with 159 points, the highest independent team finish that year.[43] LCR re-expanded to two bikes in 2018 by signing Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami from Moto2, pairing him with Crutchlow on a mix of current and previous-year Honda prototypes to optimize development feedback.[44] Crutchlow continued his strong form with consistent podiums, including a victory at the 2018 Argentine Grand Prix amid chaos from a delayed start and Márquez-Rossi contact, leading the championship early before finishing seventh overall.[45] Nakagami, in his MotoGP debut season, steadily improved, culminating in his first premier-class podium—a third place at the 2020 Qatar Grand Prix—after qualifying on the front row and holding off late pressure from Yamaha's Maverick Viñales. This era saw LCR scale operations through closer integration with Honda's factory team, including enhanced data sharing from Crutchlow's factory-spec bike testing and joint telemetry analysis to refine RC213V setups, contributing to eight total podiums across the duo from 2018 to 2020.Challenges with Honda Machinery (2021–2025)
The LCR Honda team faced significant hurdles from 2021 onward due to persistent deficiencies in the Honda RC213V motorcycle, particularly in power delivery and handling, which hampered competitiveness in the MotoGP premier class.[46] In 2021, riders Takaaki Nakagami and Álex Márquez struggled with the bike's lack of acceleration and rear grip, resulting in Nakagami's 15th-place championship finish with 76 points from six top-10 results but no podiums, while Márquez scored 70 points in 16th.[47][48] The season marked a downturn following stronger prior years, exacerbated by Honda's overall development challenges post-Marc Márquez's injury absence.[49] These issues persisted into 2022, with Nakagami achieving a best of ninth at the Mandalika Grand Prix but ending 18th overall with 48 points, and Márquez in 17th with 50 points, highlighting the RC213V's ongoing struggles in cornering and top speed. Nakagami noted the bike's "DNA lost" early in the year, underscoring a broader Honda crisis that limited the team's ability to challenge frontrunners.[50] By 2023, a brief boost came with Álex Rins replacing Márquez, as Rins secured a surprise victory at the Circuit of the Americas—Honda's first win in 1,000 days—before a severe leg injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.[51] Nakagami remained consistent, finishing all but one race and scoring 56 points for 18th, but without podiums amid the bike's persistent power deficits. Rins ended 19th with 54 points.[46][52] The 2024 season represented the nadir, with the team posting a low points tally of 86 combined, as Johann Zarco joined Nakagami but ended 17th in the standings with 55 points, including several top-10 finishes, while Nakagami scored 31 points in 19th. Zarco highlighted adaptation difficulties with the RC213V's handling, particularly in dry conditions where rear grip issues mirrored factory Honda's woes. Rider changes, including Zarco's arrival from Prima Pramac Racing, aimed to inject experience but failed to overcome the machinery's limitations.[53][54][55] Entering 2025, LCR fielded Zarco alongside rookie Somkiat Chantra, who transitioned from Moto2 where he had won the 2024 title.[54] Zarco delivered several top-10 finishes, including a victory at the French Grand Prix—Honda's first since 2023—and seventh at the Thailand Grand Prix, positioning him as Honda's leading rider at 12th overall with 144 points and helping the team to 10th in the constructors' standings with 151 points as of round 20 (November 2025).[56][57][58] Chantra showed promise in adaptation despite injuries causing him to miss three rounds, scoring 7 points for 26th overall as of round 20, with results like 17th at Phillip Island.[57][59] In October 2025, LCR announced Diogo Moreira as Zarco's teammate for 2026, signaling a youth-focused lineup amid ongoing recovery efforts.[60] To counter these challenges, LCR and Honda ramped up testing, with Zarco requesting additional sessions to refine the RC213V's setup, leading to noticeable improvements in the 2025 prototype's rideability and lap times during winter tests at Sepang and Buriram.[61] Team principal Lucio Cecchinello publicly urged Honda for enhanced development, including concessions under MotoGP rules to address the bike's power and handling gaps, as the manufacturer restructured its technical staff post-2023. These measures yielded incremental gains, such as better rear grip in select conditions, though full competitiveness remained elusive as of November 2025.[53]MotoE Program
Entry and Team Formation
The LCR Team entered the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup in 2019 as the LCR E-Team, marking their debut in electric motorcycle racing as part of the inaugural season of the all-electric support class to the MotoGP World Championship.[62] This move aligned with the rapid growth of electric racing and Honda's broader sustainability initiatives, which emphasize zero environmental impact through clean energy and reduced emissions.[63][64] The team's formation integrated seamlessly with its existing MotoGP operations, leveraging the LCR base in Monte Carlo, Monaco, for shared resources and technical expertise across categories. Initially, the LCR E-Team utilized Energica Ego Corsa motorcycles as the series' spec supplier from 2019 through 2022, before transitioning to the Ducati V21L model in 2023 following Ducati's appointment as the official bike provider.[64][65] Early operations presented challenges in adapting to electric power delivery, characterized by instant torque without gears, and precise battery management to optimize energy use during races.[66] These technical shifts required the team to retrain staff on electric-specific systems, distinct from traditional combustion engine tuning.[67] Team principal Lucio Cecchinello envisioned the MotoE program as a strategic diversification beyond internal combustion engines, fostering innovation in electric mobility and preparing the organization for future sustainable racing technologies.[68] This approach allowed LCR to explore synergies between MotoGP and electric racing while contributing to the development of everyday electric vehicle advancements.[69]Riders and Season Results
The LCR E-Team entered the inaugural 2019 MotoE World Cup with riders Niccolò Canepa and Randy de Puniet, marking the team's debut in electric motorcycle racing alongside its established MotoGP operations. In a season disrupted by a fire at the Jerez storage facility, the duo scored limited points, with Canepa finishing 20th overall and de Puniet 22nd, as the team focused on adapting to the Energica Ego Corsa machinery. The 2020 campaign saw Canepa retained alongside Xavier Simeon, who delivered the team's first podium with second place in Race 2 at Misano, finishing the shortened season seventh in the standings while Canepa placed 16th. Transitioning to rookies in 2021, Miquel Pons and Kevin Zannoni joined, with Pons securing the team's maiden victory at Catalunya and ending fifth overall, though Zannoni struggled to 21st. By 2022, Eric Granado partnered Pons, achieving a breakthrough as Granado claimed five wins and eight podiums to finish vice-champion, while Pons added four podiums for ninth place, propelling the team to third in the constructors' standings. In 2023, Granado and Pons continued, with Granado securing consistent top-five finishes including a podium at Mugello, ending sixth overall, and Pons contributing points for 14th, as the team contended for podiums in a Ducati-powered era but finished fourth in teams'. The 2024 lineup introduced Mattia Casadei alongside Granado, yielding multiple victories for Casadei, such as his win in Race 1 at Misano, and steady podiums for Granado, including third at Jerez; Casadei placed second in the riders' championship behind Hector Garzò, with the team securing second in constructors'. Notable milestones included Granado's first pole for the team at Catalunya and overall consistency, with 12 podiums across the season highlighting their competitiveness in a grid of 18 riders.[70] For 2025, Casadei and Granado renewed, delivering a championship-contending season capped by the team's first constructors' title with 350 points. Granado notched second place in Race 1 at the Portuguese GP, contributing to key podiums, while Casadei mounted strong challenges for wins, including second in Race 2 at Portugal and pushes at Valencia, but ultimately missed the riders' crown to Alessandro Zaccone by a narrow margin, finishing second overall. The duo's synergy ensured LCR E-Team's dominance in a highly competitive field, with 46 career podiums and 15 victories underscoring their evolution since 2019. The 2025 season marked the final round before the championship's announced hiatus.[71][72]Racing Achievements
Notable Riders and Milestones
The LCR Team has been associated with several standout riders in the MotoGP premier class, beginning with Australian Casey Stoner, who joined as a rookie in 2006 and demonstrated early promise by securing two podium finishes and ending the season fifth in the championship standings aboard the RC211V machine.[20] British rider Cal Crutchlow became the team's most successful MotoGP competitor during his tenure from 2015 to 2020, achieving three race victories—including the team's inaugural premier-class win at the 2016 Czech Grand Prix—and 12 podiums overall, while consistently finishing in the top six of the riders' standings multiple times.[40][73] French rider Randy de Puniet provided longevity from 2008 to 2010, posting reliable top-10 results and a career-best fifth place in the 2010 championship, helping establish LCR as a competitive satellite outfit.[29] More recently, Johann Zarco brought experienced leadership in 2024 and 2025, outperforming factory Honda riders to finish as the top HRC-powered competitor in his debut season and securing a contract extension through 2027.[74][75] In the lower classes, Japanese rider Daijiro Kato left a tragic yet indelible legacy with LCR, clinching the 2001 250cc World Championship with 11 victories on the NSR250 and becoming the first Japanese rider to win the title before his untimely death in 2003.[1] Argentine Sebastian Porto emerged as a strong 250cc contender during his 2002 stint with the team, challenging for the championship with multiple podiums and a pole position before injury setbacks.[1] LCR's entry into the MotoE World Cup since 2019 has featured notable performers like Italian Mattia Casadei, who leads the team's win tally with multiple victories, including the 2024 vice-championship, and Brazilian Eric Granado, a podium specialist who has secured several top-three finishes, such as second place at the 2025 Misano round.[72][76] Key team milestones underscore LCR's growth as a reliable Honda satellite operation without securing a world title but achieving consistent success: the expansion to a two-rider MotoGP lineup in 2015, enabling broader development contributions; the first premier-class victory in 2016 with Crutchlow at Brno; and the MotoE program's podium debut in 2020, when Xavier Simeon finished second at Misano in the series' early races.[39][40][77]Grand Prix Results by Category
The LCR Team's participation in the lower displacement classes from 1996 to 2005 focused primarily on the 125cc category until 2000, followed by a transition to 250cc starting in 2001. In the 125cc class, the team's best performance was a third-place championship finish by rider Roberto Locatelli in 2004. The squad achieved several top-10 results across seasons but did not contend for titles, with aggregated highlights including multiple podiums in individual races. Upon entering the 250cc class, LCR secured its strongest lower-class result with Casey Stoner's runner-up championship position in 2005, where he earned 254 points.[17][78] Key riders' cumulative statistics with LCR across all Grand Prix classes reflect the team's emphasis on developing talent into competitive performers, particularly in MotoGP since 2006. Cal Crutchlow, riding for LCR from 2015 to 2020, recorded 3 wins, 12 podiums, and amassed significant points contributions, establishing himself as the team's most successful rider. Casey Stoner, during his 250cc tenure from 2002 to 2005 and MotoGP rookie year in 2006, achieved 5 wins (all in 250cc), 10 podiums in 250cc alone, and 119 points in his debut MotoGP season. Stefan Bradl, with LCR from 2012 to 2014, logged 0 wins but 1 podium, totaling 403 points across those years as MotoGP Rookie of the Year in 2012. Takaaki Nakagami, a mainstay from 2018 to 2023, delivered consistent mid-pack results with 0 wins, 0 podiums, and 444 career MotoGP points, highlighted by multiple top-10 finishes. Johann Zarco, joining in 2024, has 1 win, 2 podiums, and 199 points through 2025, including a breakthrough victory in the latter season.[73][79][80][81][82][83][84][85] LCR's MotoGP results by season demonstrate steady independent team contention, with peaks in the mid-2010s driven by Crutchlow's successes and recent improvements via Zarco's podiums. The following table summarizes team championship positions, points, wins, and podiums from 2006 to 2025:| Year | Position | Points | Wins | Podiums | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 8th | 119 | 0 | 1 | Stoner's rookie pole and 5th in riders' standings |
| 2007 | 9th | 65 | 0 | 0 | Transition year with multiple riders |
| 2008 | 10th | 61 | 0 | 0 | Consistent top-15 finishes |
| 2009 | 9th | 106 | 0 | 1 | Podium at Indianapolis |
| 2010 | 7th | 121 | 0 | 0 | Strong mid-season results |
| 2011 | 10th | 61 | 0 | 0 | Three riders sharing duties |
| 2012 | 7th | 135 | 0 | 0 | Bradl as Rookie of the Year |
| 2013 | 6th | 156 | 0 | 1 | Bradl's pole at Laguna Seca |
| 2014 | 8th | 117 | 0 | 0 | Bradl's final full season |
| 2015 | 7th | 142 | 0 | 1 | Crutchlow's debut podium |
| 2016 | 8th | 141 | 2 | 4 | Crutchlow's wins at Brno and Australia; Top Independent Team |
| 2017 | 8th | 112 | 0 | 1 | Crutchlow's Czech GP podium |
| 2018 | 7th | 191 | 1 | 3 | Crutchlow's Argentina win and multiple podiums |
| 2019 | 7th | 210 | 0 | 3 | Crutchlow's three podiums |
| 2020 | 8th | 148 | 0 | 0 | Pole at Le Mans amid COVID-shortened season |
| 2021 | 7th | 146 | 0 | 0 | Nakagami and Pol Espargaro consistency |
| 2022 | 10th | 98 | 0 | 0 | Mid-pack challenges |
| 2023 | 10th | 110 | 1 | 1 | Rins' Americas GP win |
| 2024 | 10th | 86 | 0 | 0 | Zarco's adaptation year |
| 2025 | 10th | 151 | 1 | 2 | Zarco's win and podiums; mid-pack with Chantra (as of November 2025) |