11/13/2023 Act. at 11:59 CET
The Italian, supported by his brother on the VR46, would change the best bike on the grid, the Ducati, to start an uncertain adventure at Honda
Valentino uploaded a photo to his social networks from his time as a Honda driver, triggering rumors about Luca’s signing for the winged brand.
Luca Marini may be the one chosen by Repsol Honda to fill the vacancy of Marc Márquez next season. In the Sepang paddock it is assumed that Valentino Ross’s brotheri has accepted the offer from the winged brand and will change the best bike on the grid, the Ducati of his current VR46 team, to venture with the most difficult, the RC213V, with the commitment that his new contract will be for two seasons and not for one as HRC intended.
The name of Luca Marini He was one of those being considered, as Repsol Honda team manager Alberto Puig acknowledged on Friday. However, speculation skyrocketed in Malaysia after his brother (on his mother’s side) Valentino Rossi He uploaded a photo from his time as a Honda driver to his Instagram stories. In the ‘il dottore’ team, the VR46 did not know how to get out of such a track. Uccio Salucci, manager of the training, pointed out that “Team VR46 and the Academy VR46 are different things. We have told the people at the Academy to inform us of Marini’s departure or not as soon as possible,” he simply commented.
Puig mentioned Marini and Oliveira, talked about the possible return of Pol Espargaró and ruled out Lecuona and Aldeguer, but from his words it seemed clear that the main bet was Fabio Di Giannantonio, the rider whom Márquez left without a motorcycle at Gresini Racing. “There is not much to choose from, most pilots have a contract,” he said. Evidently Marini has signed an agreement with the VR46, but in his case the ‘boss’ is his brother Valentino, who will not put any obstacles in his way. Team director Pablo Nieto has already informed Ducati of Marini’s plans and his possible change of scenery.
Aldeguer, in his position
If it is confirmed that Marini will be the one to take over from Márquez at Honda, the VR46 would aim for Moto2 to complete its lineup for 2024. Marco Bezzecchi’s new teammate would, according to the latest rumors, emerge from the trio of riders who have stood out the most. this year despite the dominance of the already champion Pedro Acosta: Fermín Aldeguer, Tony Arbolino and Alonso López. All three have contracts and Aldeguer, who seems to be the one with the most options, assured that he will stay in Moto2 to the DAZN microphones after his victory in Malaysia.
In Sepang, Marini spoke about Honda but did not want to refer to the Japanese proposal: “The problem in this MotoGP does not depend on Honda or not Honda, the problem is that in a year, with five days of testing, there is no time to do nothing. I am a rider who has the goal of reaching an official team and developing a motorcycle, but with the right opportunity. Doing only one year in a team with the MotoGP of now is very risky for the rider. I am going very strong, close to the podium positions and those fighting for the championship. I think I’m doing well and that next year I can do even better. The future? It’s something that needs to be talked about with the manager and the team, and above all with Vale, who is the boss.”
2023-11-13 11:01:13
#Luca #Marini #Rossis #brother #Márquezs #Honda
