Luca Marini Faces Honda Contract Uncertainty for MotoGP 2027

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Luca Marini has confirmed he remains in regular contact with Honda HRC regarding his MotoGP future, as early rider market movements intensify ahead of the 2027 season.

With most factory contracts expiring at the end of 2026, the rider market has accelerated earlier than usual. Momentum increased on 2 February when Aprilia Racing confirmed Marco Bezzecchi on a new two-year deal, reducing the number of elite riders available for future negotiations.

Speculation escalated further following reports suggesting Fabio Quartararo had agreed terms with Honda, while Jorge Martin was linked to Yamaha and Pedro Acosta to Ducati. Quartararo, however, publicly denied on Monday that any agreement had been signed with the Japanese manufacturer.

Should Honda ultimately secure Quartararo, only one factory RC214V seat would remain available for 2027. Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira are already tied to multi-year agreements with LCR Honda, significantly narrowing the options within the HRC structure.

Both Marini and Joan Mir are out of contract at the end of the current season and present strong cases to remain with Honda. Mir delivered two podium finishes last year and was often outright quicker, while Marini has built his value on consistency and a methodical, analytical contribution to bike development.

“I think right now everyone is talking a lot, both in the media and among riders,” Marini said.

“Every rider wants to be in the best possible position for 2027, but it’s not easy to understand what that is, because everything is going to change.”

“I am constantly talking with Honda, with all the Japanese. We have a fantastic relationship,” he added.

“The 2026 season hasn’t even started yet, so there is still plenty of time to sort these things out.”

“At the moment there is a lot of speculation, maybe because everyone was a bit bored at home and wanted to start a fire,” Marini concluded.

“But once we get into testing and technical topics, I think that will fade away.”

With Honda’s immediate priority centred on technical recovery and medium-term performance gains, decisions regarding its 2027 rider line-up are unlikely to crystallise until the early phases of the 2026 season. For Marini, continued consistency and development impact are expected to be decisive factors in securing his long-term place within the manufacturer’s MotoGP project.