In 2024, Takaaki Nakagami is the most experienced rider aboard a Honda RC213V. The rider has been with LCR Honda since 2018, knowing the team and the bike well – in contrast to his teammate Johann Zarco, who comes from Prima Pramac.
The Japanese rider stated in the season launch video: ‘Now this year is my seventh season in MotoGP and I have a lot of experience with Honda’s bike and it’s also the seventh season with the same team, LCR. So we know very well each other in the LCR Honda and also I know very well the Honda from 2018 and every year the bike is an evolution. The bike is always going faster and faster’.
Nakagami believes that his sensitivity to the bike can be an asset: ‘I explained to LCR Honda to get my information to help the developing because I think my strong point is that I’m able to understand what is the difference of small parts and small settings; I’m able to explain how is different on the bike’.