MotoGP: Repsol Honda sign Luca Marini to replace Marquez

Luca Marini has officially announced that he will join Repsol Honda in 2024.

Luca Marini will officially join Repsol Honda, replacing Marc Marquez for the 2024 MotoGP season. The Italian will leave the VR46 squad, racing under the team’s banner since 2018 in Moto2.

He will follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Valentino Rossi and join the historic Japanese brand.

The 26-year-old ends all speculation for the ride, including riders such as Johann Zarco, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Iker Lecuona. The deal was rumoured to be a one-year contract beginning next year.

However, Marini has signed a two-year deal and will race with Honda until the end of the 2025 season. He will join 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir, who has struggled since joining Repsol Honda.

Since joining MotoGP in 2021, Marini has claimed two pole positions and two podiums in the premier class. The Italian has scored a total of 362 points in the class, with a best of sixth in the Championship this year.

He has made no secret about his ambitions to ride for a factory team. Marini said: “It has always been my dream to be in a factory team, develop a bike and bring the manufacturer to victory. So, in my opinion, it’s the right moment.”

This leaves the VR46 Racing Team seat as the only vacant ride on the grid, with only one day before the test. Fabio Di Giannantonio is the rider expected to take over from Marini. Marco Bezzecchi has already signed to race for the team, which has been used to promote young Italian talent.

Fabio Di Giannantonio was left without a ride this year after Marc Marquez left Repsol Honda to join Gresini. It has been an impressive end to the season for Di Giannantonio, who claimed his first race win in Qatar.

Seats will be confirmed soon, with the postseason test in Valencia getting underway Tomorrow (Tuesday).

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