Luca Marini secured his best qualifying position for Honda by starting sixth at the San Marino Grand Prix, held at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. This marked a notable step forward in Marini’s 2024 season, showcasing clear progress with the Honda RC213V. Meanwhile, his teammate Joan Mir missed the Sprint race due to a neck injury but aims to compete on Sunday after further recovery efforts.
Strong Practice Sessions and Last-Minute Qualifying Effort
On Saturday, Marini showed impressive pace and consistency, placing third in Free Practice 2. His final qualifying lap, clocking 1’30.390 in Q2, improved significantly from his previous efforts earlier in the year. This timely performance secured his sixth-place starting position, indicating important gains for both rider and machine heading into the race weekend.
Sprint Race Challenges and Marini’s Performance
During the Sprint, Marini struggled to maintain his earlier momentum, finishing seventh amid stiff competition from riders like Acosta and Aldeguer. He reported a change in bike feeling compared to earlier sessions, which affected his performance despite trying to keep pace with the leaders. The altered conditions proved challenging as the race progressed.
Joan Mir’s Injury Forces Absence from Sprint; Recovery Hopes for Sunday
Joan Mir withdrew from Saturday’s riding activities after experiencing neck pain and restricted mobility caused by a crash on Friday. With rest and physiotherapy, Mir remains optimistic about returning to race on Sunday, aiming to join Marini in striving for better results.
Marini Reflects on the Day: Progress Mixed with Frustration
After the Sprint race, Luca Marini shared his mixed feelings about the day’s outcomes:
“It’s a good result today when we look at our performance for the whole year, but after our feeling in the morning, honestly, I was hoping for more. We improved the bike compared to Friday but in the Sprint, everything felt worse and with the change in the wind, I wasn’t as strong as in the morning.”
—Luca Marini, Rider
He further added,
“When the conditions are perfect, we are able to be really close to the front, but if there is something missing, we still have some margin to close. The start will be crucial tomorrow, and I hope to improve that from today. Like I said, it’s important to look at the big picture of the season and the last 12 months and we need to be proud of the work we have done so far. I am confident we can do more tomorrow.”
—Luca Marini, Rider
Season Progress and Focus Ahead of Sunday’s Race
Marini’s performance at Misano highlights both the strides made this season and the challenges that remain. While optimal conditions earlier in the weekend enabled strong times, shifts in weather and track conditions impacted his Sprint race result. As the San Marino GP weekend advances, the team and riders are focused on building momentum and seeking improved finishes during Sunday’s feature race.
