Luca Marini saw another door close on him for the 2027 MotoGP season as Ai Ogura signed with Yamaha. It leaves the Italian with just one remaining option to keep his spot on the grid.
With his contract expiring at the end of 2026, Marini’s chances of keeping his seat are looking slim. Fabio Quartararo is joining Honda from Yamaha, and he is set to be partnered with Moto2 star David Alonso.
LCR Honda already have their line-up locked in for 2027 in Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira. That left Marini exploring his options for next season, which included a seat at Yamaha.
Ai Ogura will join Jorge Martin at Yamaha!
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Jorge Martin is said to have signed with Yamaha to replace Quartararo, and Marini was in talks with the Iwata outfit over the second seat. However, the team have opted to sign Ai Ogura to replace Alex Rins in what is a shock move on the MotoGP rider market.
A report from Motorsport.com says that Marini’s camp were informed by Yamaha that they would be signing Ogura to partner with Martin for the 2027 season. With his options dwindling, the Italian’s future now lies in Honda’s hands.
Tech3 could be Luca Marini’s last chance to stay in MotoGP
It has been well documented that Honda want to have six bikes on the grid from 2027 onwards. Only Ducati runs that many machines in MotoGP today, and the Japanese giants could join them with the acquisition of Tech3.
Guenther Steiner’s team is being linked with a move away from KTM, who could run with just two bikes on the grid as a result of their financial struggles. Tech3 have been linked with Honda, as well as other manufacturers, for 2027.
It has now been reported by Motorsport Espana that the ‘priority’ for Honda is to reach an agreement with Tech3 to join their line-up as their second satellite team. As the report mentions, this could allow Marini to stay within their ranks.
The 28-year-old is rated highly at Honda and they would surely want to keep him on board in some capacity. But if Marini wants any chance of retaining a race seat in 2027, Tech3 could well be his hope.
READ MORE: Get to know Luca Marini, from his net worth to half-brother Valentino Rossi
Where do Honda currently stand with signing Tech3 for 2027?
Honda are not the only manufacturer linked with the French outfit. Ducati were believed to be interested in Tech3 if they lost Gresini from their line-up, but Nadia Padovani’s team are set to stay amid talks with Honda.
Aprilia are also in talks with Tech3 amid uncertainty around Trackhouse and their ownership. But Honda appear to be in the most advanced stage of negotiations.
Would Honda securing a second satellite team in 2027 be good for MotoGP?
MotoGP SEG is worried about Tech3’s potential Honda deal as it could tempt KTM to leave the sport altogether. It is an option that owners, Bajaj Auto, were considered during their restructuring process.
With just two bikes on the grid, KTM would lose valuable data and potentially an incentive to stay in MotoGP, as results would certainly be hard to come by. It would be Honda’s gain, but whether a deal can be agreed is to be seen.
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