The 2025 season is fast approaching! Until February 27, the day before the opening round in Thailand, Let's talk MotoGP will focus on each of the riders entered in the premier class. We will discuss the anticipation they generate, their abilities, and, finally, deliver a small prediction. Today, it is time to discuss the future of Luca Marini, Honda's factory rider in MotoGP.
Yesterday we returned to the case of Franco Morbidelli in an article that I invite you to find by clicking here.
Difficult adaptation
Luca Marini had an extremely difficult 2024 season. Having moved from Ducati VR46 to Honda Repsol, he has had all the difficulties in the world to get to know this RC213V. The Italian was often last, detached from the rest of the pack. Then he applied himself, taking his time, with patience and that stoic character that has characterized him since his beginnings in MotoGP. And even though he finished his campaign in 22nd position (last of the regulars), he regularly got into the points once the overseas tour began. Luca was regularly better than his world champion teammate Joan Mir in the last third of the season, both in races and in qualifying. Let us recall that Mir, twice crowned in his career, had discovered the Honda in 2023, a year before.
Luca Marini is not one of those who regress, and that is already positive. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
As I have already had the opportunity to express, I find the public particularly hard on Luca Marini. Many do not like him, especially because he is Valentino Rossi's half-brother. As if, in the history of motor sports, Some of the best drivers did not have a parent who had succeeded before them. There is no shortage of examples: Verstappen, Damon Hill, Jack Doohan, Ascari, Remy Gardner… and Valentino Rossi himself. But hey, when fanaticism invites itself into sport, there's nothing we can do about it.
Still, factually, he became a better Honda rider than Joan Mir at the end of the year. This is not an opinion. I find it all the more honourable since Marini arrived at Honda at the worst time in the history of the brand in Grand Prix, in a context as unfavourable as possible. Okay, he was not at the level of a Johann Zarco, but everyone knows the talent of the Frenchman, we cannot reproach him for not being as good as someone he is not. Let's judge Marini by Marini's standards, and Marquez by Marquez's standards.
When you put it all together, he didn't bring in many points but he worked conscientiously, in the right direction. And sorry, but I want to value his efforts for this one and only reason. The end result clearly did not represent Luca Marini's commitment.
Other expectations
Now that that's said, I logically expect more in 2025. It has made a lot of progress in 2024, and Honda, it seems, is going in the right direction – improvements made possible by the many concessions they benefit from. If the RCV improves, Zarco and Marini will be the first to benefit from this progress, helped also, no doubt, by developer Aleix Espargaro.
We must not forget that Zarco was a candidate for the Ducati Pramac handlebars in 2024, and that he preferred to go to LCR. We cannot compare them. Photo: Honda MotoGP
For its second year, it is legitimate to expect a slow but linear progression, following the dynamics of 2024. Joan mir, his teammate, is likely to go faster – at least at the beginning –, but I don't think constant risk-taking is the solution to advance a manufacturer that is only just beginning its reconstruction with a new technical director.
The prognosis
What can we imagine for Marini in 2025? I see a solid season, hands in the grease. He is of a breed that has almost disappeared, that of the regulars who almost never fall – in the line of Bradley Smith –. I think that the confidence gained by a year of development will allow him to attack a little more, even if speed has never been his strong point; thus, perhaps there will be falls to be expected. Do not expect podiums or victories from him, and above all, don't compare him to Johann Zarco who is of a completely different caliber. Overall, I don't see why he would be more vocal, he who is certainly one of the most discreet on the grid.
Ranking wise, I see him finishing between the 18th and 20th place overall, ahead of Mir. It's not great, you'll agree, but it would still represent a fairly useful progression within the framework of the Honda project.
What future do you predict for Luca Marini? Tell me in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
Luca Marini arrived at the worst possible time: he replaced Marc Marquez on one of the worst MotoGP teams of all time, and also saw the defection of Repsol as main sponsor. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Cover photo: Honda MotoGP
