Uccio Salucci had said it, it was as boss of the VR46 team that Valentino Rossi arrived in Valencia. By this, mean that the procrastination on the case of his half-brother Luca Marin at Honda and therefore leaving his team which must now decide on a successor would cease with the Doctor taking charge of the file. And we have seen the results: if Honda has not yet announced anything, The Doctor alone confirms the departure of Luca Marini in the direction of Honda. As for the rest, it should be called Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was not the first choice of his right-hand man. So, who's the boss?
Barely arrived in Valencia, Valentino Rossi moved the lines by showing that the communication of the VR46 did not belong to Honda. Thus, an official announcement of the colors of Tavullia informing of the departure of Luca Marini arrived written as follows: “ from a common agreement, for both parties, the time has come to pursue ambitious goals and results by following different paths. All the management, team and people involved in the project wish Luca the best for his future ».
Once the departure was recorded, the destination was still missing. SO Valentino Rossi commented on Moto.it : " Luca's departure was a shock for us, we didn't expect it. I'm really sorry, it was nice to see Luca in front, being the protagonist, with my team, our bikes. But he had this opportunity to have an open place in an official team, and in any case from the official Honda ».
Valentino Rossi: “ Honda is Honda, for us who are of a certain age »
He even specifies: “ two years of contract, it's a difficult choice ". He also adds, teasingly: “ and then Honda is Honda, for us who are of a certain age ».
Does this mean that the winged coat of arms brand already belongs to history? Vale responds… “ At Honda, they understood that they had to move up a gear, because Ducati took a big lead… Then next year the Japanese manufacturers will have help from the regulations, and Luca is a very good test rider so we will see. I have always been a big fan of Japan and Japanese pilots ". Starting next Tuesday, the 2024 offseason will begin. We wait to see what Honda will propose and with what staff ...
