Honda brings in Marini to replace Marquez in MotoGP

Honda signs Luca Marini, half-brother of Rossi, to two-year deal. Marini earned two podiums in 2021, Di Giannantonio to replace him at VR46. Marini to get first outing on Honda in Valencia tests.

Honda announced on Monday it had signed Italian Luca Marini, the half-brother of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, to a two-year deal with its factory team.

Marini, 26, will take over from Marc Marquez, the six-time world champion who is leaving Honda a year early to join his brother at Ducati satellite team Gresini Racing.

After making his MotoGP debut in 2021, Marini earned his first two podium finishes this season -- in the United States and Qatar -- as he came eighth overall riding for VR46, the Ducati satellite team owned by Rossi.

He also finished in the top three in four sprint races and twice took pole position.

Marini will get a first outing on his new Japanese bike at the post-season tests in Valencia on Tuesday.

He will pair up at Honda with 2020 world champion Joan Mir, who endured a disastrous past season in which he finished 22nd after scoring only 26 points.

Honda finished bottom of the constructors' standings this season, just as they did in 2022.