Honda Makes Official The Signing Of Marini For The Next Two Seasons
Luca Marini and Honda reached an agreement days ago, once those responsible for the Japanese team agreed to offer the Italian the two-year contract he required to join the project. However, the latest issues, related to the Urbino driver’s sponsors, and HRC’s desire to focus all the focus on Valencia for Marc Márquez ‘s farewell, postponed the announcement of the name of the #93 replacement until this Monday, the first-course day of 2024.
In an official statement issued this Monday morning, Honda briefly explains the hiring of the Italian: “Honda Racing Corporation is pleased to announce the signing of Luca Marini for the 2024 and 2025 MotoGP World Championship seasons. The 26-year-old rider joined the premier class in 2021 after achieving six wins and 15 podiums in the Championship. of the Moto2 World Championship, where he was runner-up in 2020. Since he arrived in the premier class, Marini has achieved two podiums in Grand Prix, two pole positions and four podiums in Sprint in 2023. He will join Joan Mir in the factory team with a two-year contract.”
At 26 years old, Marini joined the Honda discipline after having completed his best year in MotoGP, a category in which he debuted in 2021, until now always under the umbrella of VR46, the company of Valentino Rossi, his brother. In 2023, the #10 finally finished eighth in the general classification, as the fifth-best Ducati rider of the eight competing, with two podiums in his locker despite not having been able to win yet in the category of the heavy motorcycles.
Despite not being Honda’s first candidate to replace Márquez, Marini’s name took off once the multi-champion from Cervera (Lleida) announced his departure, the situation in the driver market meant that the list of candidates was not too extensive, even though many called HRC to be interested. Finally, it was the Japanese side of the Tokyo manufacturer who agreed to the requests of Rossi’s brother, who, contrary to what one might think, did everything on his part to get out of VR46’s shelter. Those who have endorsed his arrival consider him one of the most regular elements on the grid, even though, to date, he has only been able to demonstrate that quality on the handlebars of a Ducati, a much more refined prototype than the RC213V to which he is already will go up this Tuesday.
Pending confirmation, Marini will inherit most of the human group that has accompanied Márquez in recent years, with Santi Hernández at the helm, except those who leave the team – Javi Ortiz goes with #93 to Gresini–, or those who change roles – Jordi Castellá goes from technician to Honda coordinator. Joan Mir will remain on the other side of the garage, who, unlike his new teammate, only has one more season on his contract.
Once Marini’s arrival to the Repsol Honda team has been made official, this Monday the rider who replaces him in the Mooney VR46 will be known, who will be none other than Fabio Di Giannantonio, the rider who loses his place in Gresini in favour of Márquez, Thus closing the circle and the 2024 grid that will be launched again this Tuesday in the preseason test held in Valencia.
