MARINI EXPECTS APRILIA TO SET THE PACE IN INDONESIA

Luca Marini heads to the Indonesian Grand Prix hoping to build on last year’s fifth place, while acknowledging that repeating it will be difficult. The Honda rider finished 10th at the team’s home race in Motegi and 14th in Austria, but remains the manufacturer’s highest-placed rider in the championship, sitting 12th overall. His season has swung between stronger spells, when he challenged for the top six, and recent struggles to stay inside the top 10.

Marini said his 2024 result came from a rare combination of factors: “Everything came together—the bike and the tyres on a track I really like.” This time, he added, “just repeating that will be pretty much impossible.” He expects Aprilia to set the pace, saying, “I think the four Aprilias will be unbeatable,” while also pointing to Marc Márquez and other Ducati riders as formidable opposition. “A result around seventh would be a dream,” he said.

The Indonesian weekend also brings a revised schedule, including a separate qualifying session for the sprint. Marini said teams had pushed for the change since sprint races were introduced, with the aim of improving the show for fans. Riders, however, will face more pressure to manage their time attacks: “That’s a challenge we have to take on.”

He is less certain about the effects of reduced track time and the removal of warm-up. With major technical changes coming in 2027, Marini said, losing opportunities to ride and gather experience “could be a disadvantage.” He also raised concerns about the fan experience, particularly at circuits such as Jerez, where spectators arrive early to watch as much on-track action as possible.

Marini is set to join KTM Tech3 in the future, but for now his focus is on Honda and a Mandalika weekend where he sees a top-seven finish as an ambitious target.