Ducati rider Luca Marini, of Italy, celebrates on the rostrum finish of the Qatari MotoGP Grand Prix on the Lusail Worldwide Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, on November 19, 2023.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Honda introduced on Monday it had signed Italian Luca Marini, the half-brother of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, to a two-year cope with its manufacturing facility group.

Marini, 26, will take over from Marc Marquez, the six-time world champion who’s leaving Honda a yr early to hitch his brother at Ducati satellite tv for pc group Gresini Racing.

After making his MotoGP debut in 2021, Marini earned his first two podium finishes this season — in the USA and Qatar — as he got here eighth total using for VR46, the Ducati satellite tv for pc group owned by Rossi.

He additionally completed within the prime three in 4 dash races and twice took pole place.

Marini will get a primary outing on his new Japanese bike on the post-season assessments in Valencia on Tuesday.

He’ll pair up at Honda with 2020 world champion Joan Mir, who endured a disastrous previous season wherein he completed twenty second after scoring solely 26 factors.

Honda completed backside of the constructors’ standings this season, simply as they did in 2022.

Frenchman Johann Zarco, who rode for Ducati-Pramac the previous three seasons, may also be part of Honda in 2024 after signing a two-year cope with its LCR satellite tv for pc group.

Marini’s spot within the VR46 storage might be stuffed by compatriot Fabio Di Giannantonio, who has penned a one-year contract.

Di Giannantonio discovered himself and not using a journey for 2024 after final month’s announcement that Marquez was shifting to Gresini.

The 25-year-old Di Giannantonio ended the season strongly, claiming third place in Australia after which securing his first MotoGP victory in Qatar.