MotoGP: Alex Rins deal with LCR Honda 'almost done' after Alex Marquez departure

Alex Marquez' LCR departure has made it blatantly clear that Alex Rins will take his spot in 2023, with the imminent agreement the worst kept secret in MotoGP.
Following Suzuki's withdrawal, Alex Rins needed to find a new home in MotoGP, and reports immediately linked the Spaniard with a move to LCR Honda.
Other options came in the shape of Gresini and RNF Aprilia, but with both teams set to use this year's bikes in 2023, his only opportunity to ride a new and improved bike was with Honda.
An agreement has been in place between both the rider and the team for some time now, and Alex Marquez' Honda departure has inched the deal closer to completion.
Rins confirmed that the deal was "almost done", and made no attempt to hide his future location.
It looks like Alex Rins will replace Alex Marquez at LCR Honda for 2023 āļø
ā Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) June 24, 2022
With Marquez going to Gresini Ducati š#MotoGP #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/IJZoYLId0n
"We are almost done, everybody can imagine where I will go next year with the exit of Alex Marquez going to Gresini," Rins admitted.
"Still, it is not official because I did not sign, the last signature, but we are quite close so maybe in the next days it will be.
"In the end I was managing the Ducati option - the Gresini option - or the LCR option," Rins revealed.
"We were talking with Ducati and they did not give me an official [2023] bike.
"I was fighting for an official bike and Honda was able to give me that possibility. It's a nice project because right now, the bike is not going so good in terms of results, so let's see if we can manage to make a good bike.
Rumors going around that Alex Rins is set for LCR Honda move for 2023 season.#MotoGP #AlexRins #AR42 #Suzuki #SuzukiMotoGP pic.twitter.com/YVzh54PKhl
ā GPComunity (@gpcomunnity) June 23, 2022
"I like a challenge because I think that we did a really good job at Suzuki and so we can do something similar."
Rins isn't the only Suzuki rider to have their sights set on Honda either. Current teammate Joan Mir is set to join Repsol Honda alongside Marc Marquez.
Takaaki Nakagami is expected to retain his seat alongside Rins in the LCR team, although the accident-prone Japanese rider could face pressure from Moto2's Ai Ogura.