In a Friday interview with Spanish broadcaster DAZN at the Malaysian MotoGP, Repsol Honda team manager Alb🔥erto Puig shut down speculation that Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer might t🌱ake over Marc Marquez’s vacant seat.

“It's 100% false,” Puig said.

But no sooner had one rider rumour apparently been put to ꦫbed than another was ignited, with Puig saying ex-HRC rider Pol Espargaro was “a real possibility” for the seat.

Espargaro claimed two podiums during a pair of often frustrating seasons at Repsol Honda before returning to KTM via the✤ Tech3 GASGAS project this year.

But after being convinced to hand his full-tim⛄e ride to Moto2 champion elect Pedro Acosta for next season, Espargaro is one of the few experienced MotoGP ride🍨rs on the current grid that might be available for 2024.

However, while thanking Pui🌜g, the #44 made clear he in𓂃tends to stay with KTM.

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“I'm really grateful to Alberto. And for a manufacturer to want you back, for wꦍhatever reasons or conditions, is so📖mething nice,” Espargaro told MotoGP.com.

“It means that the job done there ♓was not too bad and th✨e relationship with them is good.

“I had talks for sure with Alberto. We had a talk about the contracts and all this, but also on tไhe other hand, I'm tied with my contract with KTM and also my relationship with KTM is ♎very nice. I'm very comfortable where I am, also looking to the future.

“Maybe I would like to continue [full-time racing in 2024], but the situation is like 🧜this 🌞and I take it with responsibility knowing that 2025 is open again.

“I want to really give a hand to this 🉐manufacturer, the Pierer Mobility Group, to make them grow, 𝔉to be world champion one day, hopefully very soon.

“That’s my position right now.”

🎶The Spaniard, who was badly injured in the Portimao season-opener and didn’t return until after the summer break, added his decision came down to: “My loyalty, my relationship with KTM and also the future work that is in front of us. I hꦚave quite a lot to give still to them and I think they can give me quite a lot more still.

"I think for both parties working together for the future, it's pretty 💟interesting.

“So I felt that🐷 somehow this decision is the most intelligent, even if I’d like to keep riding [full time] beca🐻use I feel fast. 

"I need actually this winter to come bac▨k to my normal level, because I think I'm having quite a lot of [physical] problems with my body and my confidence that I need to build up again.

“But as I💜 said, 2025 is a new year and we will see what happens, but at the moment my heart is orange, white and red.”

With Espargaro and Aldeguer apparently out of🌃 the running, Fabio di Giannantonio remains the favourite to effectively swap places with Marquez for 2024, but with Luca Marini lurking in the background, expressing interest in a factory role while confirming he has a contract to stay at VR46.

Reacting to the Repsol Honda rumours before Espargaro’s denial, Tech3 GASGAS team boss Herve Poncharal had♏ told Dorna’s Jack Appleyard:

“Honestly, if you𝓰 look at what’s happening in the paddock for the past few weeks, nothing is impossible.

“[But] from what I know Pol’s visited the [Pierer Mobility] head office, met the management and when I spoke with him about the meeting, heಌ was quite pleased with what he’s been offered as a 2024 program.

“I think Pol would be happy to finish his career with Pierer Mobility, work as a test and substitute rider, then stay as an ambassador for the future. But we also know they all have the fire to go [full-tim💞e] racing.

“🌼But regarding GASGAS Tech3 we know our riders next year are Augusto Fernandez an꧙d Pedro Acosta.”

ꦫRepsol Honda is believed to be offering only a one-year deal for the ex-Marquez seat, with most MotoGP rider contracts expiring at the end of next ౠseason.