The MotoGP silly season has kicked into overdrive over the summer break amidst Honda’s woes, with much of the speculation centring on the Japanese marque’s riders.
Marc Marquez’s future with the brand has been thrown into the air following a bruising start to the 2023 season, in which he has scored just five points, despite his contract running to the end of 2024.
He has once again been linked to KTM, with a report in German publication Speedweek last week stating the Austrian marque could field Marquez and Pedro Acosta on RC16s run by the LCR squad.
In an interview with Autosport’s Italian language sister site GPone, Cecchinello has played this down, insisting he will see out his current contract with Honda through to the end of next year.
“I want to be totally honest and transparent: about 10 days ago I received a kind phone call from Francesco Guidotti (KTM team principal) in which he told me, calmly and independently, that from the Silverstone Grand Prix KTM would like to begin to understand how to move forward,” Cecchinello told GPone.
“They are interested in lining up another team in MotoGP, and not only based on Pedro 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 expires at the end of 2024.
“The phone call ended like that and we didn't speak to each other again.
“I have a contract with Honda for 2024 and it is not my intention to break it. I have been in MotoGP with Honda for 18 years, next year will be the 19th.
Source: Autosport