LUCA MARINI SAYS HONDA MAY STILL STRUGGLE AFTER 2027 RULE CHANGES

Luca Marini has confirmed his Honda departure after Tech3 announced his move on Tuesday, bringing an end to a two-year stint that has not produced a podium for the Italian on the Japanese machine. Marini joined Honda at the start of 2024 after leaving VR46, but by the time he agreed terms with Tech3, his Honda seat had already effectively been decided. Honda have since signed Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha and are planning to pair him with either David Alonso or Diogo Moreira in the factory team.

With the 2027 season approaching, Marini also addressed how the major MotoGP rule changes are likely to affect the competitive landscape. He said the shift from 1000cc to 850cc has made the bikes “quite a bit slower,” and he pointed to the reduced aerodynamics as another factor. He also noted that ride-height devices will be banned. Marini, however, does not expect those changes to completely overturn the hierarchy at the front.

Asked by GPOne how much the new regulations will shake up the championship, Marini argued that the early prototypes may not reflect the final performance level. “The bike is quite a bit slower. But it’s still a MotoGP bike, more or less – it’s a great MotoGP machine, and I’m sure these are just the initial prototypes. Within a few years, the engines will definitely be very fast again; we’ll see.”

More importantly, Marini believes the teams that have already found the best approach will keep their advantage. “In my opinion, the technical pecking order will remain more or less the same because Aprilia and Ducati have proven to be the ones that worked best, specifically in terms of their working methods and how they optimised their energy and budget in the right areas of the bike.”

That view would be particularly uncomfortable for Honda, who are currently fourth in the constructors’ standings. Marini’s comments also suggest that while a move to KTM could be a step forward, it may not be enough on its own to deliver his first premier-class win.

Marini tested Honda’s 2027 prototype at Brno in June, alongside the Gresini-bound Joan Mir, with testing so far taking place behind closed doors. He also referenced the wider debate around development direction, noting that Ducati and Aprilia have been linked to support for a one-bike rule in practice sessions, with the idea that limiting rivals’ development could help those already ahead—though that plan was reportedly blocked.