KTM had expressed interest in securi🎐ng the two LCR Honda seats for 2024 in a bid to promote Pedro Acosta while keeping all four of its current MotoGP riders. 

Also linked with a switch to KTM, should they get their hands on two ext🅠ra bikes, has been Marc Marquez although he too has a contract tying him to Honda until the end of 2024.

• Baut🅠ista: “Marquez haജs a lot of talent but can’t rely on that alone” 
• Iker Lecuona set for Suzuka 8 h🤪ours ra☂ce or British MotoGP at Silverstone?

With no satellite Yamaha team, Ducati holding three who are going nowhere for the time being and Apr﷽ilia in their first season as a combined full factory and satellite project, Honda’s LCR bikes were the obvious choice for KTM to go after.

But Cecchinello, whoꦿ is in the midst of a long-term relationship with Honౠda, has admitted that a phone call from Francesco Guidotti was not enough to persuade him.

"I want to be totally honest and transparent," Cecchinello told . "About ten days ago I received a friendly phone call from Francesco Guidotti and the KTM team manager told me, in ♛a calm and autonomous way, that from the Silverstone GP KTM would like to begin understanding how to move forward. 

"They are interested in fielding♛ another team in M🍰otoGP, not just for Acosta next year. 

"He asked me what my sit⛎uation was for 2024 and I replied that I had signed a three-year contract with Honda that will expire at the🐻 end of the next year. 

"The phone 🐲call ended like this and we never heard from each other again."

Honda have already seen Alex Rins and Joan Mir linked with moves away from the Japanese brand, desp🎉ite being in the first of a two-yea🐠r deal in their respective teams.

LCR confirmed as much in regards to Rins, who is in talks wi♎th Yamaha about lining 🔯up alongside Fabio Quartararo.

However, Cecchinello intends to honour his cont⛦ract from a team point of view: "I have a contract with Honda for 2024 and it’s not my intention to break it, that’s th🍌e simple truth."