Luca Marini Eyes 2026 as Peak Opportunity Amid Honda's MotoGP Revival

The departure of Marc Marquez from Honda at the close of 2023 ignited a spark in Luca Marini, prompting him to reflect on his childhood aspirations of competing in the iconic colors once donned by his half-brother, Valentino Rossi, within the HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) framework. Marini opted to leave the comfort and consistent results of his family-operated VR46 Racing Team, taking a calculated risk to join Honda’s ambitious resurgence project during a period of relative downturn for the team.

As the team exhibits definitive indications of recovery, the 28-year-old Italian rider discussed Honda’s ongoing transformation, his personal development as a rider, and the mindset that propels him through the demanding challenges of MotoGP with Motorsport.com.

Motorsport.com: You project an image of a private individual who prefers to keep his personal life separate and shies away from media attention. Is this an accurate perception?

Luca Marini: Is that the impression I give? I think it’s more that people don’t talk about me that much, which is fine. I’m generally calm and don’t engage in anything extravagant. I value my privacy, and I’m not particularly extroverted. If people are talking about me, I’m content with that, and I don’t actively avoid it.

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Motorsport.com: The recent positive results, particularly Joan Mir’s podium finishes in Japan and Malaysia, suggest that Honda is moving in the right direction. Do you agree?

Luca Marini: Absolutely. The progress has been substantial, but we’re not there yet. The most challenging part is still ahead. Closing that final gap of a few tenths of a second needed to consistently win is the most difficult task.

Motorsport.com: How do you feel you have contributed to Honda’s progress?

Luca Marini: In numerous ways. Since I joined Honda, there have been significant changes, especially in our working methods. We’ve made considerable improvements in that area. We’ve increased our personnel; previously, there were fewer staff members directly supporting the riders and the team. On the technical front, I’ve been involved in several aspects. I believe my most significant contribution has been providing engineers with concrete feedback and working collaboratively to identify solutions to various problems.

Motorsport.com: Is it fair to say that you are trying to inject your own personality and work ethic into the team? Earlier in 2023, Honda seemed to lack direction, with individuals pulling in different directions.

Luca Marini: Yes, that’s a fair assessment. I’m passionate about racing and winning, and I focus on every detail while always pushing myself to the limit. In the past, Honda relied heavily on Marc’s talent, as he could compensate for the bike’s shortcomings with his exceptional abilities. However, they lost their way a bit in terms of technical development.

Motorsport.com: Some people describe you as an engineer disguised as a rider. Is this technical mindset a part of your job, or is it simply your personality?

Luca Marini: Everyone is different. I’ve always been fascinated by the technical aspects of motorcycles. I’m passionate about maximizing the bike’s performance from a technical perspective. Sometimes it can be a challenge because some riders don’t focus on the mechanics; they simply push themselves to the limit, and if it works, that’s fine. But I prefer to understand how everything works.

Motorsport.com: Your ability to interpret data and telemetry is a valuable skill that not every rider possesses.

Luca Marini: I’ve always been curious about that. I’ve learned a lot from the engineers I’ve worked with in MotoGP. Even in Moto2, I used Wintax (a telemetry analysis software), which is a great learning tool. I was always asking engineers, my crew chief, and data technicians questions to learn something new. Now I can do it all myself.

Motorsport.com: Another one of your interests is learning Japanese.

Luca Marini: Yes, I started with great enthusiasm at the beginning of the year, but after the Suzuka accident, I slowed down a bit. It’s a very difficult language, but it’s helped me understand the Japanese culture better.

Motorsport.com: Are you learning Japanese out of respect for the factory, or to improve communication with the engineers and gain a competitive advantage?

Luca Marini: I’ve always been fascinated by Japan – its culture and the country itself. I wanted to learn more and understand them more deeply. When you work with Japanese people, you quickly realize that it’s a completely different world compared to Europe. They have a very distinct mindset and culture. Even when we speak English, I want to express myself in ways that are more comfortable for them, so they clearly understand what’s a yes and what’s a no.

Improving communication is crucial. Speaking English is really challenging for them because it’s a completely different language structure. I realized that quickly when I joined Honda, so I try to communicate better every time. It would be ideal to speak Japanese like Taka [Takaaki Nakagami, HRC test rider] and talk to the engineers in their language, but it’s very hard. I’m struggling with it, but I can say a few words already, and I’ll keep improving in the future.

Motorsport.com: When rumors surfaced two years ago in Malaysia that you were negotiating with Honda, you must have had certain expectations or dreams. Have they been realized?

Luca Marini: Yes, absolutely. We’ve reached this point faster than I expected. I’m very happy, which means we’ve worked well together, and by following my feedback, the bike has improved at an exponential rate.

Motorsport.com: In your last year with VR46, you achieved two podiums, two pole positions, and finished eighth in the championship. Do you understand why some people questioned your move to Honda?

Luca Marini: Yes, some people may not have understood the change, especially at the start of last season. But now, the results speak for themselves. I still have another year on my contract – another opportunity to grow with Honda and try to win races next season, in 2026, which I think will be the best opportunity of my life.

Motorsport.com: So your goal is to win races next year?

Luca Marini: Of course, absolutely.

Motorsport.com: Earlier last year, you were frequently seen in the paddock with the VR46 guys, but that’s less common now. Is that part of a process of independence, of finding your own path?

Luca Marini: Not really. Whenever I can, I spend time with them. I’m not going through any process of independence; I just try to give 100% every weekend. It’s true that in a factory team, there are more events and meetings than in a private team, so it’s harder to find time to hang out with the academy guys. Now Bez (Marco Bezzecchi) and Pecco (Francesco Bagnaia) are also in factory teams, so it’s not easy to be together. But between us, everything is as normal as always.

Motorsport.com: The VR46 Riders Academy produced an incredible generation of Italian riders – Morbidelli, Pecco, Bezzecchi, yourself – but right now, there doesn’t seem to be a new wave coming through. Has the VR46 system run its course as a training ground, with the focus now more on the MotoGP team?

Luca Marini: I’m not the right person to answer that question.

Motorsport.com: But you’ve been part of the academy since the very beginning.

Luca Marini: Yes, that’s true. In my generation, there were so many riders – from 1996 to 1999, there were a lot of Italian kids on minibikes, MiniGP, PreGP, Moto3… now there are fewer. It’s harder, it costs a lot of money, it’s complicated. I think the academy helped us take that next step. They’re now looking for new young riders; a couple have already joined, and we’ll try to help them reach the world championship. But that’s really something you should ask the people working on it every day. We riders just focus on riding.

Motorsport.com: You’re known for being calm, composed – you practice yoga, meditation, and focus a lot on mental preparation. How important is mental work for MotoGP riders today?

Luca Marini: It’s definitely important. But every rider is different. I’ve learned to understand myself better, and through that, I’ve realized everyone’s unique – different thoughts, feelings, ways of communicating. Each rider has to discover his own path, his own way to bring out his talent and show it on track.

Motorsport.com: Unlike most riders, you don’t have a personal assistant – you prepare your helmet and leathers yourself. That’s unusual, especially considering you’re part of the ‘royal family’ of the paddock, as Valentino Rossi’s brother. Why no assistant?

Luca Marini: I take care of my own helmet and leathers, yes, but of course, the people at AGV and Dainese help me, and so do the team members. The team is my family – if I need something, they do it right away. It’s all very easy for me to manage on my own.

Motorsport.com: You also travel alone, without a manager or assistant, unlike most riders.

Luca Marini: Yes, I like traveling alone. But in the end, we usually leave from Bologna, and there are always plenty of people heading to the races.

Motorsport.com: How do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you think you’ll still be in motorcycling, or will you take a different path?

Luca Marini: Ten years is too far ahead for me. I can only think two or three years into the future, and what I’d love is to stay here with Honda. That would be perfect. I really love the job, the team, everything. I’d like to be here, winning races.