LCR Racing Marks 30 Years With Misano Celebration For Team Principal Lucio Cecchinello

Ahead of the first MotoGP engines firing at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on Friday, LCR Honda marked a milestone of its own: the team owned by Lucio Cecchinello celebrated its 30th anniversary. Cecchinello, who now lives in Monaco and is registered there as a motorsport entrepreneur, began his racing journey in the 125cc World Championship with his own team, later scoring seven Grand Prix wins.

For the official celebration, the paddock at Misano became a reunion scene. LCR managed to gather 14 former LCR riders in their original racing outfits on the grid, alongside the full team structure, current riders, and their families. The centerpiece of the event came when Cecchinello personally rode out after his ceremonial lap, passing through a corridor of supporters made up of friends, former team members, the current crew, and partners and sponsors. To bring the moment to life, the 1999 125cc Honda was brought into action.

During the festivities, Cecchinello looked back on his early path into motorcycling. He explained that his parents initially did not want him to ride bikes, saying they wanted him to finish his education, get a job, and fund racing himself—because, as he put it, “they didn’t want to pay for it.” He added that he took work in a motorcycle shop, and then reflected on the anniversary atmosphere: “It is absolutely fantastic, incredibly and beautiful to be able to experience this here.”

After his lap, Cecchinello was lifted and celebrated by friends and team members in a way that was described as rockstar-like, with Johann Zarco and rookie Diogo Moreira playing leading roles. The event also highlighted Cecchinello’s long-standing loyalty to Honda, noting that even when opportunities to switch manufacturers appeared, he remained with the brand. Still, riders from the team’s earlier Aprilia era before the move into MotoGP were also included in the memories and photo moments.

The history being celebrated includes Casey Stoner’s breakthrough with LCR Honda, which helped pave the way for his move to Ducati’s factory team. The team also recorded five MotoGP wins with Cal Crutchlow, Alex Rins, and Johann Zarco, and overall claimed 25 victories in MotoGP under Cecchinello’s leadership.