Pit Beirer: Luca Marini “a great guy” who can help KTM

– Three of the four KTM riders for the 2027 MotoGP season have been officially confirmed. In the factory team, Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio will race. The satellite team Tech3 wants to rely on a pairing of experience and a rookie. For the experienced rider, the choice fell on Luca Marini.

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“We are really glad that he is coming to us,” says KTM motorsport chief Pit Beirer to MotoGP.com. “Of course, there were many discussions and also a lot of waiting to see how Maverick would develop with his injury.”

“So there was a lot of time when we just waited and observed what would come next.” Since the condition of Maverick Vinales’ left shoulder did not improve, KTM did not take the option on him for next year.

After the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in mid-July, Vinales took a break and has since been replaced by test rider Pol Espargaro. Vinales is only expected to return when his shoulder is fit enough.

For Marini, it became clear early in the season that he might not be able to stay with Honda. On the one hand, Honda signed Fabio Quartararo, on the other hand, Marini and Joan Mir received no commitment at the European season opener in Jerez.

Mir then contacted the Gresini Ducati team and quickly reached an agreement with team owner Nadia Padovani. Marini also explored options and entered talks with KTM.

“We have always been in contact with Luca all the time,” Beirer looks back on the past months. “He showed his interest very early, and I think we talked to everyone who wanted to come to us.”

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“In talks with the people around him, it became clear that Luca is really a great guy to also help improve the motorcycle. I was in close contact with Günther [Steiner] the whole time about what would be best for the Tech3 team.”

“We decided very early: We want a young rider, and we want an experienced rider. Also, we did not want two young riders because it is not a rookie team, but a full-fledged, strong MotoGP team.”

The rookie in the Tech3 team has not yet been officially introduced. All signs point to Senna Agius. The Australian has won the Moto2 races in Austin and Jerez this season.

Beirer is convinced that the four new riders are the right candidates for the new MotoGP era with 850 cubic centimeters displacement: “I believe the atmosphere among the four riders and the belief in the motorcycle, the belief in the project.”

“That is something we also need to use at this moment to give the project a fresh start. The 850cc, new riders, I think that really builds a good energy for the future.”

The four riders will not have much preparation time for the new season. On December 1, there is a test day in Valencia. In February, there are two test days in Sepang and two in Buriram. Only the Tech3 rookie will receive two additional test days at the shakedown test in Sepang.

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