Luca Marini completed his third season in MotoGP this year. Two pole positions and two podium finishes were the highlights of his best campaign so far, which ended with a contract from Repsol Honda for 2024.
The Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider started off “on the wrong foot” by retiring from the Portuguese GP, but then went on to achieve three top-ten results – including a second place that was his first ever podium. Despite the excitement of the moment, at the time, #10 made it clear that he did not consider himself a title contender:
– I don’t think so, because I used my joker in Portimão when I had zero points, and in a championship with so many fast riders with factory bikes and teams, it’s difficult to compete with them. I just try to focus on myself, my riding, and enjoy every moment.
Another setback in France, where he did not finish the main race after a spectacular incident with Álex Márquez (Gresini/Ducati).
However, from then until the end of the season, a consistent Marini was seen: he only finished a main race outside the top ten twice, also suffering one more retirement: it was in Indonesia, where he achieved his first career pole position. Interestingly, that pole position followed the most difficult phase of the season for the Italian: a crash in the Sprint race of the India GP left him out injured for that round and the Japan GP. There was still time for another podium, with a third place in Qatar where he also started from pole position after a superb performance in qualifying. The result in Losail even left Marini with prospects of finishing in the top five in the championship, a goal he faced the Valencia GP with: ‘Finishing in the top five in the championship would be fantastic,’ he said at the time. A less successful round at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit dropped the Italian to eighth place overall, 24 points away from that top five classification. Nevertheless, all things considered, this was Marini’s best MotoGP season so far, with an eighth-place finish and 201 points scored. He would have also surpassed his best points tally without Sprint races.Still, he fell far short of teammate Marco Bezzecchi with the same bike: #72 finished third with 128 more points. Next comes the chapter with Repsol Honda, which promises to be challenging at a time when the Japanese have been one of the least competitive constructors in the paddock.
Luca Marini’s 2023 season:
Portuguese GP: Retirement in the Sprint and GP – Not classified in the championship
Argentinian GP: 3rd Sprint/8th GP – 11th in the championship
Americas GP: 7th Sprint/2nd GP – 6th in the championship
Spanish GP: 10th Sprint/6th GP – 6th in the championship
French GP: 4th Sprint/Retirement GP – 6th in the championship
Italian GP: 5th Sprint/4th GP – 6th in the championship
German GP: 4th Sprint/5th GP – 6th in the championship
Dutch GP: 11th Sprint/7th GP – 6th in the championship
British GP: 11th Sprint/7th GP – 7th in the championship
Austrian GP: Retirement Sprint/4th GP – 6th in the championship
Catalan GP: 12th Sprint/11th GP – 7th in the championship
San Marino GP: 7th Sprint/9th GP – 7th in the championship
Indian GP: Retirement Sprint/DNS GP – 8th in the championship
Japanese GP: Absent due to injury – 8th in the championship
Indonesian GP: 2nd Sprint/Retirement GP – 8th in the championship
Australian GP: 12th GP (no Sprint) – 8th in the championship
Thai GP: 3rd Sprint/7th GP – 8th in the championship
Malaysian GP: 9th Sprint/10th GP – 8th in the championship
Qatar GP: 3rd Sprint/3rd GP – 7th in the championship
Valencia GP: 17th Sprint/9th GP – 8th in the championship
