Marini bemused by his Honda MotoGP pace in 2024

#22 · May 20, 2024

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...pace-in-2024-but-just-how-bad-is-it/10613286/

Nothing to be bemused about really, he's simply in the 'found out' phase.

MichaelBolton · May 20, 2024

Marini seems to me a guy who doesn't dare to push a bike to the limit - he was a safe rider in his Ducati stint and only missed races because of a clash with his teammate, but other than that, he barely crashed. Feels like the Honda needs to be ridden in a fearless way and he can't get over that mental block needed to extract more performance (even if it's for the chance of 2 or 3 points). Maybe for the better, given how even Mir is expressing now that his body is close to giving up when riding the Honda.

mylexicon · May 20, 2024

#22 said:
https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...pace-in-2024-but-just-how-bad-is-it/10613286/

Nothing to be bemused about really, he's simply in the 'found out' phase.

The situation at Honda is difficult to assess, and Marini's career from this point is difficult to predict.

Based upon the number of crashes by Honda's fastest riders, the bike does seem to reward aggression, though the reward is not nearly enough for the risk. Marini had a reputation for riding precisely. Perhaps Honda needed another data point to incorporate. Unfortunately for Marini, he's practically a test rider doing wild cards every weekend. He's nowhere near the pace, and he surely sees his MotoGP career slipping away.

He's not young so he can't afford to lose 2 years backmarking at Honda, but he's also not in the running for any important seats. Maybe he could replace Acosta at Tech 3? Luca is stuck.

mikesbytes · May 20, 2024

Perhaps comparing Marini to Zarco gives us greater insight as they both left Ducati and both are in their first year. Zarco is doing better

Hollywood · May 20, 2024

Coming off a GP22, that bike had a year of development and data behind it, they new how to set that bike up. it does seem that the other Honda riders do make slight improvements though out the race weekends.

Sennas_Caress · May 21, 2024

mikesbytes said:
Perhaps comparing Marini to Zarco gives us greater insight as they both left Ducati and both are in their first year. Zarco is doing better

He is, and Zarco is a better rider. Easy to forget that he is a multiple world champion, and he had two very good seasons that made him just that.

Marini is supposedly a rider you want to have as a test rider, and the same goes for the post-KTM Zarco. Marini knows he is not World Champion material. He is pole position/race winner material though, when the stars allign. He has given that possibility away for cash, and for the chance to be the number one Honda Repsol rider for the next generation of MotoGP bikes. I think I would have opted for the same deal.

Staying in VR46, in the shadow of his brother, and on a machine that was never his, isn't that good option, given the upside of Repsol.

#22 · May 21, 2024

Sennas_Caress said:
He is, and Zarco is a better rider. Easy to forget that he is a multiple world champion, and he had two very good seasons that made him just that.

Marini is supposedly a rider you want to have as a test rider, and the same goes for the post-KTM Zarco. Marini knows he is not World Champion material. He is pole position/race winner material though, when the stars allign. He has given that possibility away for cash, and for the chance to be the number one Honda Repsol rider for the next generation of MotoGP bikes. I think I would have opted for the same deal.

Staying in VR46, in the shadow of his brother, and on a machine that was never his, isn't that good option, given the upside of Repsol.

No point in me typing my post, because you said pretty much what I was going to say!

The long and short of it is, he moved for the prestige of being a 'factory' rider and cash like many did on the Ducati of old (Crutchlow for example).

mtf20 · May 21, 2024

I'm not surprised about Marini's early season... He jumped in MotoGP on the best bike and he has never been an aggressive rider with the front and never sized for fighting. So when you fall in a non competitive bike, you are very far... Di Gia's case is quite similar to my mind.
I will be a bit chauvinist (i'm french you know ...) but please, don't compare Zarco with these children...
Zarco always did great in the premier class (i forgot the short KTM episod). Really nice debut with Yamaha Tech3, what a job with Avinitia Ducati when this bike wasn't totally ready to win every week.
Campinoti is the best preacher, he always told that Zarco is a great bike developper even if he wasn't the fastest.
Quite strange that HRC didn't choose him to hold factory suit but he's undeniably the best on the Honda this year, and by far. Honda's project is perfect for him, but like his teammates, hard times aren't close to end...

#22 · May 21, 2024

I think the reason Zarco wasn't on the Repsol was he signed for LCR before Marquez left. I believe there was talk of him replacing Marc, but LCR blocked it because some of their sponsors are reliant on Zarco riding their bike.

mikesbytes · May 21, 2024

#22 said:
No point in me typing my post, because you said pretty much what I was going to say!

The long and short of it is, he moved for the prestige of being a 'factory' rider and cash like many did on the Ducati of old (Crutchlow for example).

One possibility with Marini going to Honda is that he wasn't going to get to the Ducati factory team so has played the gamble that Honda will fix their problems putting him in a position to challenge for the world championship, yeh a long shot.

Marini at Honda is doing what I use do when I was a track racer (pushbikes). I'd come 4th or 5th in the championship just missing out on a medal. Marini is consistently coming 16th or 17th Just missing out on the points

mtf20 said:
I'm not surprised about Marini's early season... He jumped in MotoGP on the best bike and he has never been an aggressive rider with the front and never sized for fighting. So when you fall in a non competitive bike, you are very far... Di Gia's case is quite similar to my mind.
I will be a bit chauvinist (i'm french you know ...) but please, don't just missing compare Zarco with these children...
Zarco always did great in the premier class (i forgot the short KTM episod). Really nice debut with Yamaha Tech3, what a job with Avinitia Ducati when this bike wasn't totally ready to win every week.
Campinoti is the best preacher, he always told that Zarco is a great bike developper even if he wasn't the fastest.
Quite strange that HRC didn't choose him to hold factory suit but he's undeniably the best on the Honda this year, and by far. Honda's project is perfect for him, but like his teammates, hard times aren't close to end...

What was reported was that Zarco was offered a 1 year deal for the factory team but decided to stay with LCR to keep a 2 year deal.

BTY it looking like the LCR owner (forget name) will be running the factory team next year

#22 · May 21, 2024

Lucio Chechenello Racing

michaelm · May 21, 2024

mikesbytes said:
One possibility with Marini going to Honda is that he wasn't going to get to the Ducati factory team so has played the gamble that Honda will fix their problems putting him in a position to challenge for the world championship, yeh a long shot.

Marini at Honda is doing what I use do when I was a track racer (pushbikes). I'd come 4th or 5th in the championship just missing out on a medal. Marini is consistently coming 16th or 17th Just missing out on the points

What was reported was that Zarco was offered a 1 year deal for the factory team but decided to stay with LCR to keep a 2 year deal.

BTY it looking like the LCR owner (forget name) will be running the factory team next year

Started as a I rider team, that rider being a 20 year old Casey Stoner in 2006, reputedly with help from Dorna who wanted an Australian rider on the grid. Worked out well for Stoner, and now it would seem for Lucio, although I am not sure Dorna were always happy about having promoted Casey.

michaelm · May 21, 2024

#22 said:
Lucio Chechenello Racing

My most recent reply was really meant to be to you.

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