– Luca Marini has clarified his future in MotoGP. The 29-year-old Italian will compete for the Tech3-KTM team for the next two seasons. After three years, the half-brother of Valentino Rossi is leaving the Honda factory team and facing a new challenge in the premier class.
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The KTM satellite team officially confirmed the signing of Marini this Wednesday. For the Italian, the move also means a return to a satellite team. Tech3 has been using KTM equipment since 2019, after the team had worked with Yamaha for 20 years prior.
The team is now backed by an investor group led by former Haas Formula 1 team principal Günther Steiner. The ownership structure changed at the end of 2025 following the departure of Herve Poncharal.
Marini initially not on Tech3’s list
It was by no means foreseeable at first that Marini would end up at Tech3. The Italian was originally not on the team’s candidate list nor on KTM’s radar. However, at the Italian Grand Prix, there was a first contact between Marini’s management and Steiner.
Photo gallery: Contract durations of current MotoGP riders
In June, a meeting followed between Marini and KTM motorsport chief Pit Beirer. Apparently, the 29-year-old was able to convince both Beirer and Steiner. The talks resulted in an agreement that has now been officially confirmed.
“Luca is a rider we have been closely watching for a long time,” emphasizes Steiner. “He not only brings enormous experience but also the right mentality and approach for what we are building here.”
“Luca knows how to work at this level of the sport, whether it is collaborating with engineers, developing the motorcycle, or pushing the project forward under difficult conditions.” His speed, experience, and determination will help the team achieve its goals.”
For Marini, who belongs to Rossi’s VR46 rider academy as his younger brother, the move is another step in an already varied MotoGP career.
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From Moto2 runner-up to MotoGP
Marini debuted directly in the Moto2 World Championship in 2016. He stayed loyal to the middle class for five years, collecting six wins and a total of 15 podiums. In 2020, he finished his last Moto2 season as runner-up.
In the 2021 season, he moved up to MotoGP. Marini joined the VR46 team. His two best MotoGP results came in his third season with the Ducati satellite team: In Austin, he finished second in 2023, and in Qatar, he secured another podium with third place.
Photo gallery: Career highlights of Luca Marini
For 2024, Marini then received the chance for a seat in the Honda factory team. After convincing the officials of the Japanese manufacturer, he took over the position from Marc Marquez, who moved to Gresini.
At Honda, Marini has so far not been able to match his strongest results from his Ducati days. His best result during his three years at HRC was fifth place on three occasions. These placements were achieved in 2025 in Indonesia and in the same year and 2026 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Who will be Marini’s teammate at Tech3?
With the signing of Marini, Tech3’s driver lineup for the upcoming season is not yet complete. The second rider is most likely to be Senna Agius. The 21-year-old Australian currently races in Moto2 and is third in the overall standings.
World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez, 61.5 points ahead of Agius, was also a candidate for the second Tech3 cockpit. Despite his strong season, the Spaniard seems to be out of the running. Currently, many indications suggest that Agius will start the upcoming MotoGP season together with Marini for Tech3-KTM.
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