Marquez knew of Marini/Honda MotoGP rumours in Thailand
Marc Marquez says he knew of the rumours that Honda was talking to Luca Marini about replacing him for the 2024 MotoGP season two weeks ago in Thailand.
On Sunday, Autosport reported that Honda was in negotiations with Marini about extracting him from his VR46 contract for 2024 to join the factory HRC squad.
Marini was one of three names listed by team boss Alberto Puig in an interview with DAZN on Saturday as candidates to replace Marquez, along with Pol Espargaro and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Espargaro has already ruled himself out of the frame to remain as a KTM test rider, while Di Giannantonio had nothing new to offer on his future situation in Malaysia.
Marini also remained cagey on this, though Marquez says he is “happy” for the Italian – all but confirming that the deal is close.
“Of course, I don’t know exactly the strategy of Honda because, in the end, I try to go,” he stated, after finishing the grand prix 13th.
“Of course, they try to find the best strategy and I was thinking it would be Di Giannantonio two, three races ago.
“But already in Thailand I started to hear something, and it looks like he will take my place. I’m happy for Luca.
“With Luca I have a very good relationship and this is the good thing. We must separate things and I’m happy for him, he’s a young rider.
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Luca Marini, VR46 Racing Team
“So, if in the end it will be made official, he has a good challenge to move from the competitive Ducati in his brother’s team.
“The main reason to move to Honda, I don’t know? But in the end I move to a competitive bike, he will move to a project that needs to work a lot.”
He added: “I mean, I don’t know exactly his riding style because he’s changing a lot his riding style from one track to the other.
“Because he’s a young rider, of course the natural step would be Di Giannantonio for one year.
“But looks like now the rumours start more and more to be Marini.
“And if it’s like this, because I don’t know, I wish the best to him because I have a very good relationship with him.
“We separate: it’s not new that I don’t have a good relationship with Valentino, but with Marini yes.”
Share Or Save This Story
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
Marquez on Qatar GP: 'I would rather be somewhere else'
Five things we learned from MotoGP's steamy Malaysian Grand Prix
MotoGP Malaysian GP: Marquez takes dominant win to inch closer to title
How Honda plans a return to being an F1 powerhouse
Why Aprilia and KTM are closer to Yamaha and Honda than to Ducati
Yamaha, Honda MotoGP concession hopes face stiff KTM opposition
LIVE: F1 Brazilian GP updates - Qualifying starts after lengthy rain delay
Bagnaia out of Qatar MotoGP with fractures in right foot
Hamilton set for new penalty, will start F1 Brazilian GP from back of grid
MotoGP Qatar GP: Marquez wins thrilling sprint after Bezzecchi clash, Martin fights to third
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments