Artificial intelligence: LCR-Honda sends its riders back to the 1980s

The MotoGP World Championship is heading to the madhouse that is Misano Adriatico this weekend. There, the VR46 Academy stars Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati) in particular are keen to make their mark on the event. Both riders still have a chance of winning the title in the World Championship standings: ‘Bez’ trails his Aprilia team-mate Jorge Martin by 24 points, whilst ‘Diggia’ is currently 48 points behind.

At the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, the teams have repeatedly unveiled exciting special designs in recent years – often with a retro look. The Italian teams in particular, such as Gresini and the Ducati Corse works team, have been at the forefront of this trend. This time, Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR Honda team is also getting in on the act – and is tapping into a current social media trend centred on artificial intelligence.

Rookie Diogo Moreira and veteran Johann Zarco were instantly transported back to the 1980s with the help of an AI programme. In the photos, the two LCR riders are wearing team jackets in the typical Honda design of that era.

As is well known, LCR doesn’t do things by halves: to match the look, jeans in the classic stonewashed style of the 1980s and 1990s have already been sourced for Moreira and Zarco. The response was not long in coming. Numerous fans reacted enthusiastically and promptly called for the virtual retro outfit to be seen in real life during the Misano weekend.

On the track, Moreira in particular has been attracting attention recently. The MotoGP rookie has now settled in perfectly to the premier class, has already racked up 66 points and, since the summer, has been the most consistent Honda rider on the grid.

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The Brazilian has thus already climbed to 14th place in the World Championship standings. Moreira could even move up to the HRC works team in 2027, where he would become a team-mate of former world champion Fabio Quartararo. No official decision on this has been announced as yet.