HRC signs Alex Marquez for 2020 MotoGP season

Decision clouded in controversy

Just a few days ago, we reported on the departure of Jorge Lorenzo from the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) Repsol Honda MotoGP Team.

Now it seems that slot has quickly been filled with HRC's most recent announcement: It has signed reigning Moto2 World Champion, Alex Marquez. The young Spanish rider will join the Repsol Honda Team on a one year contract.

He will move from the intermediate class to partner eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez in 2020 for his debut season in the premier class aboard the Honda RC213V.

^{Alex Marquez (right) with brother, Marc (left).}

The younger Marquez beat out potential candidates, Johan Zarco and Cal Crutchlow for the newly vacated seat in the team. There has been some controversy surrounding the choice, considering the team's top rider and reigning six-time MotoGP champion is his brother and is currently in negotiations with HRC over a contract renewal.

Repsol Honda Team manager, Alberto Puig, insists that Alex's results alone, not because he is a 'Marquez' have made him a deserving choice.

The 23-year-old is now set to make his full-time MotoGP debut soon. The Marquez brothers will be the second set of brothers currently competing in MotoGP, with Alex and Pol Espargaro riding for Aprilia and KTM respectively. This is the first time in MotoGP where two brothers are riding for the same team.