With eight-time world champion Marquez becoming a member of Gresini Ducati subsequent season, Honda has been desperately trying to find a alternative.
Miguel Oliveira was the favoured choice, however Honda’s insistence on providing a one-year deal took the five-time grand prix winner off the desk.
Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio – whom Marquez will substitute – then emerged as favorite, although rumours emerged on the run as much as the Malaysian Grand Prix that Moto2 race winner Fermin Aldeguer had a proposal.
Nonetheless, on Friday in Malaysia Honda crew boss Alberto Puig advised DAZN that neither he, nor Aldeguer’s supervisor, knew the place this hearsay got here from – casting doubt on the rider’s personal feedback this week that he had been in talks.
In the identical DAZN interview, Puig revealed that Pol Espargaro, Di Giannantonio and Marini at the moment are the contenders for Marquez’s experience at Honda. Espargaro has already confirmed he’ll stay with KTM as a take a look at rider.
Requested by Motorsport.com if he’s held talks with Honda, Marini remained cagey, noting: “Properly, now, no, on this second. At present, Friday.”
When pressed if these had occurred in some unspecified time in the future, he added: “Ah, that is… it’s worthwhile to speak with my supervisor.”
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Luca Marini, VR46 Racing Workforce
Marini is contracted to VR46 for the 2024 season, however is just not ruling out switching to Honda.
“It is determined by the scenario,” he stated. Relies upon. There are a lot of issues that have to be in the identical route, in my view.
“Now I’m feeling actually sturdy, I’m bettering so much throughout this season and subsequent yr I need to be aggressive and combat for the rostrum in each race and obtain higher outcomes, so that is my major goal and I need to do every thing to attain it.”
A swap to Honda would imply Marini swapping the most effective bike for the worst, however admits the attract of main improvement at a manufacturing unit crew is robust.
“Yeah, you could have the most effective bike, however entering into a manufacturing unit crew and develop your personal bike and speak with the engineers and observe a route – your route – all people collectively, is a very totally different factor,” he stated when requested by Motorsport.com if it made sense transferring to Honda, from a aggressive standpoint.
“I do know that my package deal now could be unbelievable, the crew is working very effectively, and Ducati is a unbelievable bike performing effectively each time in each scenario, each situation.
“But in addition, as a rider, I’ve desires to attain and to experience and work for a manufacturing unit crew is one thing actually unimaginable, in my view.
“Nevertheless it must be the proper undertaking, the proper scenario.”
Di Giannantonio refused to be drawn into any conversations concerning the competitors he faces to get the manufacturing unit Honda seat and says it’s “not my largest problem” proper now.
“Which competitors?,” he replied when requested by Motorsport.com if he was fearful about Marini taking the Honda seat.
“It’s like all people [is] on that seat, however you guys [the media] additionally put each identify on my seat each time – on the Gresini seat, on the Honda seat.
“So, the competitors is from you. For my facet, I don’t know. I simply go on the bike and no matter it’s will probably be good.
“In the intervening time, it’s not my largest problem in my thoughts. I simply need to go quicker tomorrow and within the race on Sunday.”
