Marini: “At 14 I knew which path to take”

Luca Marini has joined Honda to replace Marc Marquez for the 2024 season. MotoGP, thus realizing a childhood dream of driving for a factory team in the premier category.

In an interview presenting its new recruit, the Japanese manufacturer returned to the Italian driver's career, who notably mentions his first experiences on two wheels, well before competing in the world championship.

“It was something that was growing in my head, and around the age of 14, I decided that being a professional pilot could be my daily life, my job, admits number 10. When I was younger, I thought about other sports, even other jobs, because I was curious to try a lot of different things, and then it was motorcycling that gave me the most of emotions.

I started with pocket bikes, then Mini GPs, like the Honda NSF trophy with the 100cc four-stroke, remembers Marini. I have very good memories of it. Then I arrived in the Italian Moto3 championship, then in the European championship.

I started to get very big, so I moved to Moto2, and after a year in the European Championship, I arrived in the World Championship. I learned a lot and am a better driver and a better person today. »

As for his best memory riding a motorcycle. “It may be easy, but the first podium in MotoGP at COTA during the GP of the Americas (In 2023 Editor’s note) was simply incredible. It’s a magnificent place for a first podium. A moment full of emotions that I hope to experience under the colors of Honda” concludes the native of Urbino.

A success in Orange that he also believes that it will be able to afford very quickly, saying he is convinced that the Japanese factory will return to the path to success in the near future.

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