Luca Marini is aiming for a MotoGP podium finish following his Honda HRC teammate Joan Mir’s third-place result at last week’s Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi. Despite Marini’s retirement due to clutch problems in that race, recent upgrades to the Honda bike have enhanced both riders’ competitiveness.
Recent Honda Performance Sparks Podium Hope for Marini
Marini has not stood on the MotoGP podium since his third place at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, but improvements in the Honda motorcycle have boosted his optimism. The Italian rider believes that consistent advancements now give him and Mir genuine chances to challenge for top-three finishes on the grid.
When asked ahead of the Indonesian Grand Prix about his prospects for securing a podium, Marini replied,
“If we arrive in a good situation with good speed, good grid position – why not?”
Luca Marini responded when asked before the Indonesian Grand Prix if he believes a podium is possible for him with Honda.
He emphasized the progress made recently, stating,
“As Joan [Mir] showed, but also as I showed in the past races, the bike improved a bit and we are able now to ride better.”
He added further,
“In certain circumstances now I think it’s possible to fight for the podium.”
Marini stressed the importance of seizing every opportunity, saying,
“Every time is a good option, every time is a good opportunity.”
Challenges Await at the Indonesian Circuit
The upcoming Indonesian Grand Prix presents a different set of challenges compared to the Japanese round, leaving Marini somewhat uncertain about the weekend’s outcome. The bike’s rear tire casing, track temperature, and layout vary significantly, which could affect the team’s performance.
The Honda rider commented,
“Here is a little bit of a question mark.”
He explained further,
“This track changes many things compared to Motegi, especially the casing of the rear tyre but also the temperature, the track layout – everything is different so we need to see.”
Marini is hopeful that free practice sessions will provide clearer insight into their competitiveness:
“After FP1 we will understand a little bit more our potential.”
He concluded with optimism,
“Hopefully we can enjoy this weekend and try to achieve another good result like in the past races.”
Qualifying Performance Key to Race Success
In MotoGP, starting position is crucial due to the difficulty of overtaking on many circuits. Marini emphasized the need for a strong qualifying lap to improve race results irrespective of raw race pace or machine abilities.
He elaborated,
“Every bike is able to fight with a good qualifying.”
To illustrate, he referenced Fabio Quartararo’s strong performances from pole despite perceived package limitations:
“Even Quartararo made fantastic races starting from pole position even if the potential of the package is not that.”
Marini highlighted that beginning races from the front row simplifies the challenge, especially in sprint and longer-distance events. He said,
“I think now, with the bike that we have, especially for the Sprint race but also for the long race, if you start in the first row it’s a very easy race compared to starting in the back and recover, even if you have a good pace, because it’s very difficult to overtake.”
He praised Mir’s qualifying in Japan as an example, adding,
“Now, every bike is super-competitive and the qualifying lap is very important; we try to do it well every time and Joan did it very well in Japan.”
Qualifying Pressure Alters Rider Strategies
Marini noted that the imperative to qualify inside the top ten pushes riders to take greater risks during practice sessions. This shift impacts how race weekends unfold strategically.
He remarked,
“Now we are pushing at the very limit in the practice to stay in the top-10 because this can change your weekend.”
He went on to compare scenarios, saying,
“For the moment, it’s like this. If you don’t have the pace but you start in the front you can achieve a very good result; if you have the best pace of the grid but you start 12th I think the race will be tough.”
Luca Marini and Joan Mir’s progress with Honda’s upgraded bike is encouraging for the team’s future races. Their ability to secure strong qualifying positions will likely be vital for podium contention, especially at demanding tracks like Indonesia. With Marini’s cautious optimism, the evolving Honda package could soon yield more consistent top finishes in MotoGP competitions.
