Luca Marini says Honda missing pieces to enjoy 2026 MotoGP

Luca Marini says Honda is missing some little pieces to enjoy better results in the 2026 MotoGP season. The Italian rider attributes the stalled progress to HRC shifting development focus to the 2027 850cc/Pirelli era, calling it a pity that rule changes are hindering their current potential.

This season, Honda's RC213V has managed a best finish of fifth, with the team scoring 29 fewer constructors' points than at the same stage last year. In contrast, the closing stages of the 2025 MotoGP season saw Honda celebrate a pair of podiums with Joan Mir and promotion out of concession Rank D.

Marini, who will move to Tech3 KTM next season, reflected on his time with Honda since joining in 2024. He described the period from 2024 to now as completely different in every aspect, likening it to a revolution in a very good way. However, he believes the change of rules for 2027 has cost the team momentum.

"From 2024 to now is completely different in every aspect. It was like a revolution in a very good way," Marini said. "I think that, or my side, the change of rules for next year, it’s a pity."

He added that even if riders changed, the project would improve if Honda kept listening and working on the bike. Unfortunately, he said, all effort is now directed toward the new 2027 bike, which he understands.

Marini, currently 11th overall and Honda’s leading rider in the world championship standings, said the team is not collecting the results they expected or worked for over the past two years. When he arrived at Honda, they needed to work together to build something, and now that it’s ready, it’s still missing some little pieces to enjoy a little bit more with the results.

"We enjoy a lot the time in the garage, the atmosphere is fantastic, but we’re missing some bigger results, and the opportunity to work for it in every weekend," Marini stated.

Marini and teammate Joan Mir will lose their factory seats to a new HRC line-up featuring Fabio Quartararo and either Diogo Moreira or David Alonso for the 2027 season. When asked about the choice between Moreira, currently in his rookie MotoGP season at LCR, and Alonso, a Moto2 race winner, Marini praised both riders.

"Well, for me, they are both super good riders, very talented," Marini replied. "Diogo is doing everything very well, riding well, so I just can tell you something of him, because I'm racing against him at this moment."

He noted that David Alonso’s potential in MotoGP remains unknown, but both riders have good talent, incredible speed, and show strong results on track, suggesting they will have fantastic careers in MotoGP.

Marini added that, at the moment, Diogo Moreira is doing everything well in MotoGP, based on the data, and questioned why he should not be considered for the factory ride. Moreira, currently 14th in the world championship, was Honda’s leading rider at Aragon, finishing seventh in the Sprint and ninth in the Grand Prix.

The source of this information is Crash.net.