Randy de Puniet signs new LCR Honda deal

Randy de Puniet has signed a new contract with the LCR Honda squad.

Despite lengthy discussions about a move to the Tech 3 Yamaha squad as replacement for James Toseland, the French rider will remain with Lucio Cecchinello’s satellite Honda squad for the 2010 MotoGP campaign.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season in 2009 and he currently sits ninth overall in the title standings having failed to score points in just one race.

The highlight of his campaign came at the British GP at Donington Park in late June when he claimed a third place behind Andrea Dovizioso and Colin Edwards, The former 250GP winner was strongly linked with a switch to the Tech 3 Yamaha squad, but the French team will run an all-Texan line-up in 2010 with World Superbike sensation Ben Spies joining Edwards.

“The 2010 season will be my fifth year in the MotoGP class. Honda is working hard to improve the RCV machine and the LCR Team is very professional and they are like a family for me. We have got the potential to make positive results and we will try again, ” said de Puniet.

Team boss Lucio Cecchinello, who also staged talks with Italian Marco Melandri earlier this season, said: “We are very happy to work with Randy next year. He still has a lot of potential and our aim was to continue the project we started together in MotoGP in 2008.Honestly I am very confident of what we can achieve in 2010. We will work with the same style and with the same determination to make a step up in the quality of our organisation and our performances.

LCR Honda could still yet run a second RC212V machine for Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama.