Honda given reprieve amid MotoGP rider injury crisis

Honda's MotoGP rider shortage has been helped ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix, as Luca Marini returns to competition following his Suzuka 8H testing crash last month.

And while satellite team LCR will be a one-man line-up at the Sachsenring, it will return to full strength in Brno with the return of a familiar face in test rider Taka Nakagami.

Marini, who hasn’t raced since the British Grand Prix in late May following extensive chest injuries sustained at Suzuka, was a question mark going into this weekend’s German race - but has been given the all-clear to return to action.

“I am really happy to be back,” said Marini in the team’s press release, “to be able to ride my bike again, see everyone in the team and keep working on this project.

“The test we had in Brno last week was good, and I was able to understand my physical condition well. I am not perfect at the moment but the best way to improve further is to ride.

“Of course, it would be great to go straight back fighting where we were, but this weekend is mostly about getting back into the rhythm to end the season well.”

That relieves some pressure on Honda’s rider lineup as lead test rider (and past Marini replacement) Aleix Espargaro instead heads to the Tour of Austria in the first weekend of his new career as a professional road cyclist.

LCR racer Somkiat Chantra will not be replaced for the German GP, with the squad down to only Johann Zarco as Chantra concentrates on recovering from surgery on his right knee following a training crash last week.

“[He] underwent successful surgery today at Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona,” said LCR on Tuesday afternoon.

“The procedure, performed to address an injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee sustained during training, was carried out by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau, and the outcome was satisfactory.”

There's a 10-day window ahead of the race which means the team don’t need to replace Chantra for the Sachsenring, an option it has elected to take.

Instead, it's waiting for the race at Brno a week later to welcome back former racer and current Honda test rider Taka Nakagami, who will make his third outing of the season having previously raced at Le Mans - finishing sixth - as a wildcard and at Mugello in June.