Luca Marini shares wish to develop a title-winning bike as Honda move looms
The VR﷽46 rider is set to replace Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda in the 2024 MotoGP rider line-up.
He will trade a Ducati, today’s best bike on the grid, for a Honda which has 🀅under-performed even with the esteemed Marquez riding it.
But an opportunity to lead an entire projec✱t to the front of the sport is what attracts Marini is.
Asked about developing a bike, he said: “Yes. I thin𒐪k I can be that kind of rider.”
Marini detailed the strengths that he could bring to Honda: “The speed and the talent. Every MotoGP rider is fast and fantasti♑c.
“I have very good sensitivity on t✱he bike and I can share my feedback very well with the engineers.
“With Gigi Dall’Igna and the Ducati engineers, I’ve done my best [to give] mor🔥e feedback💫 to help them develop the best bike. Trying to help everyone work together to achieve the target.”
Honda’s mission to replace Marquez, who is heading to Gresini Ducat🙈i, took them up and down the MotoGP paddock and even briefly into Moto2.
But they have set🍸tled on Marini, reportedly on a two-year deal, which will promote him from being a satellite rider into one of the more historically prestigious spot𓆉s on the grid.
He admitted to being proud that Ho💎nda considered him: “Yes, a lot. For me, it is a great moment.
“It’s something I was looking for, for ꧂the future.
“My target, my goal, is 💙to ride for a manufacturer in a factory team and to develop the best bike to fight for the title.
“The opportunity to be in this situation is great. “Let’s see how, in t♛he future, it will be.
“For now, I am happy to be in this position.”
Ahead of this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP, Marini’s move to Rꦇepsol Honda is yet to be confirmed as VR46 seek a replacement.
Fꦺermin Alde🍌guer is in pole position to join Valentino Rossi’s squad.
James was a sports journalist at Sky S♊ports for a decade coverin🐭g everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
