Repsol Honda MotoGP boss Alberto Puig has failed to deny rumours that Pol Espargaro will replace Alex Marquez in the team for 2021.
The team has a four-year deal with reigning champion Marc Marquez and little brother Alex was drafted in this year to replace the departing Jorge Lorenzo but hasn't yet turned a wheel in anger.
“HRC is always thinking about the present and the future of its structure, from the lower categories to MotoGP,” said Puig.
“Due to the circumstances that we are in, this season is not developing through the usual channels, but that does not mean that Honda stops continuing to plan the best possible future for all their riders.
"We do not have any contracts signed with anyone that have not already been announced.”
Should Marquez Jr be dropped from the works team, he could replace either Taka Nakagami or Cal Crutchlow at the satellite LCR team.
It is unlikely that HRC will want to ditch the Japanese man but long-in-the-tooth Crutchlow could go as he has reportedly been fighting Honda over a Suzuka Eight-Hours ride that he doesn't want to do. And Honda don't like that sort of thing.
