In the current format of MotoGP weekends, the top class of grand prix motorcycle racing consists of four separate sessions that can be considered ‘competitive’. These sessions include practice, qualifying, the sprint race, and the main race. Over the course of the Qatar and Portimao races, there were a total of eight sessions. During these eight sessions, Luca Marini, a newcomer to Honda, consistently finished either last or second-to-last.
Marini was signed last season as a last-minute replacement for Marc Marquez. It was never expected for Marini to replicate Marquez’s success, especially considering the decline of Honda’s bike in recent years. Instead, Marini was brought in to contribute to Honda’s rebuilding process. The success of his hiring will ultimately depend on the performance of the RC213V at the end of the season.
Currently, the RC213V is not performing well. The Portuguese Grand Prix highlighted that it may be the worst bike in MotoGP, by a significant margin. However, this is not Marini’s fault. Despite initially showing promise in off-season testing, Marini has not had the start to the season that he and Honda had hoped for.
Marini is one of three MotoGP riders who have yet to score a point this season. His fellow riders, Franco Morbidelli and Raul Fernandez, appear to be in a better position to score points in the near future. A closer look at Marini’s races in Honda/Repsol colors reveals why this is the case.
In the Qatar sprint and the Qatar GP, Marini’s lap times were 2.3 seconds and 2.0 seconds slower than the leaders, respectively. In the Portugal sprint and the Portugal GP, his lap times were 2.1 seconds and 1.6 seconds slower, respectively. During the Sunday contest in Qatar, Marini finished 42 seconds behind the leader and initially complained of a problem with the bike. However, this did not prevent him from battling with Jack Miller for the last position.
Marini has struggled with the RC213V, particularly with mid-corner turn-in compared to his teammates. He also lacks confidence in pushing the bike to its limits over one lap. He acknowledges that the bike requires precision and is unforgiving, unlike the Ducati riders who seem to have more confidence in their bikes.
Marini’s struggles are not necessarily representative of Honda as a whole, but they are evident in his performances. A crash during private testing between Qatar and Portimao further impacted his confidence. However, he did show some improvement during the Portuguese Grand Prix, running similar pace to his teammates.
Marini believes that the key to achieving better results lies in hardware improvements. He acknowledges that time is needed to develop new parts for the bike. Evaluating and implementing these parts is his main role within the team. Honda is satisfied with his approach, and the current performance of the RC213V should not overshadow the long-term goals of the team.
Marini has been experimenting with different bike setups, which has resulted in varying levels of performance. In Qatar, he prioritized gathering useful information over finishing in a higher position. In Portimao, he realized that certain adjustments to the bike’s setting and balance were necessary.
Despite his current standings, Marini has the security of a two-year contract and can continue to work towards improvement without worrying too much about his position. The 2024 standings are irrelevant in relation to the Honda seat he currently occupies, as it became available once Marquez left.