Luca Marini has officially joined Tech3 KTM for the next two MotoGP seasons, 2027 and 2028. The announcement was made on Wednesday, marking the end of the Italian rider's journey with the Honda factory team.
Unlike the previous two seasons, when Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales were under direct KTM contracts, Tech3's new ownership structure led by Guenther Steiner is now responsible for negotiating and signing its own riders from 2027. Despite funding the riders itself, Tech3 still requires KTM's approval as the supplier of bikes and technical support.
Interestingly, Marini was not originally on Tech3 and KTM's radar. However, everything changed when his manager made an initial approach to Steiner at the Italian Grand Prix. A subsequent meeting with KTM motorsport boss Pit Beirer in June convinced KTM and Tech3 management of Marini's capabilities, leading to the agreement announced today.
Marini, who is Valentino Rossi's half-brother and a member of the VR46 Riders Academy, entered the world championship in 2016 directly in Moto2. He spent five seasons in the intermediate class, taking six wins and 15 podiums, and finishing as runner-up in his final year. In 2021, he moved up to the premier class with Ducati's satellite team VR46, and in his third season he scored two podiums: second in Austin and third in Qatar – his best results in MotoGP.
His move to the Honda factory team in 2024, replacing Marc Marquez who went the other way to Gresini Ducati, did not go smoothly. Over three years at HRC, Marini's best results were fifth-place finishes at the Hungarian rounds in 2025 and 2026 and the 2025 Indonesian GP. Now, with a new contract at Tech3, Marini is expected to fight at the sharp end again.
With Marini confirmed, Tech3 has yet to reveal who will be his teammate for next season. All indications point to Australian rider Senna Agius, who currently sits third in the Moto2 standings, 61.5 points behind championship leader Manu Gonzalez. Gonzalez was the other option Tech3 considered, but he appears to have been ruled out despite his impressive campaign.
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