MARINI PRAISES HONDA TEAM AFTER SEPANG SEVENTH, BUT CANNOT DISCUSS QATAR

Luca Marini salvaged a standout result for Honda at the Malaysian Grand Prix, finishing seventh at Sepang despite starting 13th and battling the tropical heat. His ride came after a difficult Saturday sprint, where he finished 13th and scored no points. “I was completely destroyed,” he said, explaining that he slept and rested before the main race. That recovery, along with encouragement from the team, helped him reach what he called “the best position” for the Grand Prix.

Marini described the result as “a miracle” and praised the way the Honda crew worked together. “Even if it’s only seventh place, we showed an amazing race in difficult conditions,” he said. “That was only possible because we worked together in the way I like.” He crossed the line 17.724 seconds behind winner Marc Marquez.

The Italian said he laid the groundwork in the opening lap, taking risks and trying to pass as many riders as possible so he could focus on the race rather than his physical condition. He could not remember all the overtakes. After moving up, he found himself behind Honda teammate Johann Zarco and hoped to set up a pass, but Zarco’s bike failed. “Those could have been entertaining final laps,” Marini said.

Honda’s other riders also encountered trouble. Joan Mir, returning after a lengthy illness, retired with dizziness. Diogo Moreira crashed while running 10th after the midpoint of the race. Zarco’s mechanical failure left Marini as the only Honda rider to finish. After eight laps, the four Honda riders had been running seventh, eighth, 10th and 11th.

Marini said he was pleased to have a few days at home to recover and prepare for the Qatar round. But when asked whether he was happy about racing there, the 29-year-old replied: “Whether I’m happy about it? We’re not allowed to talk about it.” MotoGP’s Sports Entertainment Group has reportedly instructed riders not to comment on the decision to hold the event amid the current circumstances. Yamaha has withdrawn from the Qatar race, while the other manufacturers are expected to attend.