Luca Marini has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the Australian Grand Prix after being declared unfit by medical staff following a severe viral infection. The factory Honda rider managed to complete just two laps during the opening free practice session at Phillip Island before sitting out the rest of the action.
The Italian rider had been struggling with the illness for several days prior to arriving at the circuit. Honda HRC team manager Alberto Puig confirmed the situation on Friday, noting that Marini's participation in the third round of MotoGP's Asian tour depended entirely on a medical assessment scheduled for Saturday morning.
That crucial examination, led by MotoGP medical director Dr. Angel Charte, resulted in Marini being ruled unfit to continue riding at the physically demanding Phillip Island circuit. The lack of strength in his arms made it unsafe for him to handle the Honda machine on the fast layout.
"Despite continued rest and treatment, Luca Marini’s condition remains unchanged, and the Italian has been ruled unfit as a result of the virus he continues to suffer from," the official statement read. The primary target for the Italian is now a full recovery in time for next weekend's race in Malaysia.
Dr. Angel Charte provided further insight into the medical verdict, stating, "For the past week, Luca Marini has been suffering from a viral condition and a high fever for three to four days. For the last 48 to 72 hours, he has been suffering from muscle weakness caused by the virus, affecting both his upper and lower body." With this withdrawal, the factory Honda squad finds themselves entirely sidelined for the weekend.
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