Luca Marini explains how Honda’s confidence in Marc Marquez caused them to suffer in MotoGP

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Marc Marquez is the most successful Honda rider of all time, but Luca Marini has explained why his former presence at the Japanese constructor has caused them to suffer in recent years.

The Spaniard was able to eclipse Mick Doohan’s former records at the factory Honda team in a matter of just seven years as a MotoGP rider, winning all but one of the championships he competed in.

Marquez was utterly dominant during his tenure at the team, snatching premier class records as he pleased.

There are but a handful of feats he still needs to collect and is well on his way to doing so, but Jorge Lorenzo has identified one MotoGP record that the now seven-time world champion is unlikely to grab hold of.

Despite riding at the top of his game for the majority of his time as a Honda rider, Marini has revealed why Marquez’s blessing may have turned into a curse during his final years at the squad.

READ MORE: Luca Marini tells MotoGP bosses what they will ‘have to change’ for 2026 after Marc Marquez crash

Luca Marini thinks Honda’s reliance on Marc Marquez caused their regression in MotoGP

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Marini was fielded a number of questions regarding Honda’s reemergence as a competitive force in the premier class.

Asked how much of a part he feels that he has played in their revival, Marini replied, “In so many ways, honestly. Since I’ve been at Honda, a lot has changed. Especially the way we work.

“We’ve improved it substantially; now we have more people compared to before, when there were very few staff working for the team and the riders. I’ve also helped a lot technically with the bike.

“I think my biggest contribution has been trying to give all the engineers answers. Not just asking or requesting, but trying together with them to find answers to every problem.”

Honda are on the cusp of moving up the concessions ranks due to the hard work that has been put in behind the scenes at the Japanese constructor.

But Marini believes that if Honda hadn’t put so much dependence on Marquez during his stint at the team, they wouldn’t have seen themselves falling down the order in the first place.

Asked about the 2023 season, which saw Honda in limbo with the direction they wanted to pursue in order to climb back up the pecking order, Marini said, “You could say it that way, too.

“I like to race and win races, to work meticulously on every aspect, and to always push to the limit. In the past, Honda had a lot of confidence in Marc because, with his talent, he could provide what the bike was lacking, but they lost their way a bit with the development of the technical side.”

READ MORE: Luca Marini explains why Ducati have dominated MotoGP for years and gives his Luigi Dall’Igna verdict

Luca Marini also noted how the technical side of MotoGP is his passion

The Italian rider was also asked about his portrayal in the MotoGP paddock of being an engineer ‘disguised’ as a driver.

Prompted on whether his input is part of the job description as a rider, or if he enjoys that side of things, Marini replied, “Everyone is different. Personally, I really enjoy the technical side of motorcycles.

“It’s always been my passion, and I like to find the maximum performance from the bike from a technical standpoint.

“Sometimes it’s a problem, because there are riders who don’t know anything about the bike, they don’t know anything at a technical level, they push to the limit, and if the bike works and everything is fine, perfect. But I like to know, understand, and learn how the bike works.”

Jack Miller is a fellow motorcycle nut in the MotoGP paddock, according to journalist Peter Bom. In fact, the Australian’s ‘golden’ feedback was one of the deciding factors in Yamaha’s decision to retain Miller for the 2026 season.