Alex Rins seals deal with LCR Honda for 2023 MotoGP

Alex Rins will join the LCR Honda team for the 2023 MotoGP World Championship, it has been confirmed.

The Spaniard is the first of the two exiled Suzuki MotoGP riders to land a deal for next season following confirmation of the Japanese manufacturer’s exit at the end of the year.

His agreement with the satellite Honda squad, which has been rumoured for several weeks, will see Rins race for his first team outside of Suzuki, with whom he has raced since his MotoGP debut in 2017, scoring three wins and 15 podiums.

“I am very happy to be joining the LCR Honda Team. Changing team and bike is a challenge but I am ready to give my 100% and to put into practice everything that I’ve learnt during my years in the MotoGP class.

“Lucio and Honda’s trust have been crucial for me in deciding to take on this challenge with this factory. I would like to thank them for this opportunity.”

LCR team boss Lucio Cecchinello, meanwhile, says he is delighted to have lured an experienced and esteemed rider to his outfit, which has failed to record a podium MotoGP result since 2019.

“I am delighted to announce that Álex Rins will be the LCR Honda CASTROL rider in 2023. We’ve just finished signing the contract, all 3 parties, so we are finally able to announce it. Rins is an experienced rider, a fast rider and a podium finisher. 

“This wealth of experience, coupled with Rins’ ability to give the precise suggestions to his technicians, as I’ve heard, will surely help us to improve our our bike package, aiming to fight for more podiums.”

Rins - who is the first LCR Honda rider to be announced for the 2023 MotoGP season - will replace Alex Marquez, who switches to Gresini Ducati next year. 

Moto2 title contender Ai Ogura is expected to be announced as his team-mate in place of the dropped Takaaki Nakagami, while Rins’ current Suzuki team-mate Joan Mir is set for a move to the factory Repsol Honda team next season.