Marco Bezzecchi
Honda will remain without Luca Marini at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, as the Urbino native continues to recover from the injury he sustained at the Suzuka 8 Hours test.
The 27-year-old featured in the test event for the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours at the end of May, as Marini sought to secure a spot in the factory Honda team for the iconic endurance race. But he endured the biggest crash of his career following a gearbox issue when braking at Turn 1.
Marini suffered multiple injuries in his crash at Suzuka, including damage to the ligaments in his left knee, fractures in the sternum and left collarbone plus a dislocated left hip. He would also only fly home 10 days later at the start of June, as Marini also suffered a pneumothorax.
Honda could still use Aleix Espargaro as a replacement for Luca Marini, despite Takaaki Nakagami’s Italian GP entry
Marini wanted to use the Suzuka 8 Hours to secure his future with Honda in MotoGP, as the Italian is out of contract at the end of this year. He saw the race as a chance to demonstrate his commitment to the brand amid claims that Honda have agreed a deal with Jorge Martin.
But the Urbino native had to sit out the Aragon Grand Prix, where Honda opted not to name a replacement, and Marini will even miss the Italian Grand Prix next week. Honda will pick a replacement for Mugello, with Motorsport.com reporting that Takaaki Nakagami will step in.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Luca Marini from his net worth to half-brother
Nakagami stepped down from his full-time race seat with Honda’s satellite team, LCR, after the 2024 season to take up a test rider role for HRC. He has also had a wildcard appearance with LCR at the French Grand Prix, but the 33-year-old will now make his debut with Honda.
Yet Honda have not ruled out fielding Aleix Espargaro as a future replacement if Marini faces a prolonged absence through injury. That is despite the 35-year-old indicating after making a wildcard appearance in this May’s British Grand Prix that he no longer has a desire to race.
What did Aleix Espargaro say to suggest he has no desire to make wildcard appearances?
Nakagami and Espargaro both joined Honda’s test team from the 2025 MotoGP season, with the latter quitting a factory Aprilia ride to join HRC. Espargaro has already made two outings as a wildcard with Honda, too, after riding at Jerez in the Spanish Grand Prix and Silverstone.
But Espargaro, who boasts three career Grand Prix wins from 257 races, left Silverstone in a downbeat mood. He took issue with Honda only wanting to use his wildcard appearances to test new parts, rather than focusing on producing any kind of real result in the relevant race.
“I asked the team to plan a time trial phase, but it’s complicated,” Espargaro said, via quotes by Paddock GP, at Silverstone.
“When they bring a lot of components, we have a limited number of tyres. You have to try different swingarms, compare settings, and that requires regular laps. They set a target time, and I do a lot of laps at that pace. But it’s no use preparing for the qualifications.
“If they want me to continue doing these races, we have to improve this aspect.”
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