MotoGP: Is Luca Marini on the brink of a dramatic move to Repsol Honda?

With one round remaining, will Luca Marini going to leave Ducati for Honda?

Testing for the 2024 MotoGP season is just days after the final Grand Prix of the year in Valencia. However, not all seats were confirmed, with the Repsol Honda seat in the factory team up for grabs.

Luca Marini is now in the driving seat for the Repsol Honda ride next season, leaving the VR46 squad. It will be an unexpected move for the Italian, who will enter his fourth season in MotoGP. However, the deal is rumoured to be completed, with Motorsport Radio’s sources expecting an announcement as early as Monday.

Marini is seventh in the MotoGP World Championship with one round remaining and has claimed two podiums in 2023. It has been a good year for the Italian, who has always been incredibly strong on the fast Ducati.

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,”

Marini may not be the only change in the Repsol Honda camp next year, with a potential change at the top of the team. Davide Brivio will reportedly replace Alberto Puig as the Repsol Honda team boss next season.

This change would be massive and would end a historic relationship for Puig and Repsol Honda. It would also open the door for Brivio to return to the MotoGP paddock after joining the Alpine F1 Team in 2021.

Who would join VR46?

Marini moving to Honda could help a fellow Italian and recent MotoGP race winner, Fabio Di Giannantonio. Current Gresini Racing rider Di Giannantonio is without a ride in 2024 after the signing of Marc Marquez.

In the pre-event press conference on Thursday, Di Giannantonio admitted that he had brought a helmet and leathers for the test on Tuesday. The VR46 team is used to promote young talent, allowing Fabio Di Giannantonio to tick all the boxes.

Uccuio Salucci told the MotoGP World Feed that they are also looking at another young rider with no decision confirmed. One young Italian who has been incredibly quick is Tony Arobolino who finished second in the Moto2 World Championship. Because of this decision, Valentino Rossi is in attendance in Valencia to make the final decision.

Who else was talking to Honda?

There have been many riders who were linked to the ride for next season, including Miguel Oliveira. The Portuguese rider was rumoured to be approached by the team, with talks eventually dying down.

Johann Zarco’s name was also thrown into the hat, with the Frenchman joining LCR Honda next year. Zarco was offered a one-year deal in the factory team before moving back to LCR in 2025. The recent MotoGP race winner was unhappy with this deal and would rather focus on LCR’s project.

Iker Lecuona voiced his desire to return to the Grand Prix paddock next season after two years in WorldSBK. Lecuona has raced in six MotoGP races this season and has been a suitable replacement rider. However, talks died down, and his hopes were crushed once again.

Fermin Aldeguer was the most recent rider to have his name tipped for the ride next season after a great end to his year. The Spaniard comes off the back of three consecutive race wins and claims he was in talks with Honda. However, Alberto Puig shut these talks down and claimed that the team had never contacted the Moto2 rider.

With less than five days until the first test of 2024, a day will be announced very soon and as early as Monday. Before that, there is still the MotoGP World Championship to be decided under the Valencian sun.

Image credit: motogp.com