Luca Marini, official Honda rider in MotoGP, gave his first impressions of the new RC213V 2025 during testing in Barcelona. If progress has been noted, particularly in terms of balance and handling, the Japanese motorcycle still seems far from its direct rivals, in particular the Ducati.
Luca Mariniwho is preparing to begin his second season with the official team
Honda in MotoGP, remains determined despite a difficult first year in 2024. With only 14 points and a 22nd place in the final standings, the Italian recognizes the shortcomings of the Honda RC213V but sees positive signs for 2025 thanks to tests carried out in Barcelona.
During the Barcelona tests in mid-November,
Marini concluded in 18th place, a day marked by numerous tests and adjustments. “ We tested a new prototype which will serve as a basis for Sepang. It's still not faster than the bike we had during the race weekend, but we found
positive elements. That said, the weaknesses remain the same “, he explained.
And new chassis was at the heart of the experiments. “ It's very different, especially for the front where it's positive. However, for the rear, there is still work to do. The test was not perfect for judging the chassis alone, as the bike was entirely different in its other specifications », added
Mariniemphasizing the complexity of judging improvements under these conditions.
The arrival ofAleix Espargaró as a test pilot at Honda is seen by
Marini as a major asset. “ It's fantastic that he was able to test the bike for the first time in Barcelona, where he is very fast. His results with Aprilia on this circuit speak for themselves. It will help us a lot in the developmentespecially with his first impressions. ” However, Marini
underlines that the adaptation ofEspargaro to the
Honda will take time due to the fundamental differences with theAprilia.
Luca Marini: « overall performance is still not good »
Despite improvements in the bike's balance and control compared to its 2023 debut, Marini
remains realistic on motosan: “ the engine, transmission, electronics and aerodynamics have been improvedbut the overall performance is still not good. »
He believes that significant progress will probably not materialize before middle of the 2025 seasonparticularly due to the complexity of the necessary adjustments.
During testing, the fastest drivers were
Alex Marquez (Ducati), Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) etc
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
Marinimeanwhile, finished in 24th place, 1.429 seconds behind the best time.
Luca Marini et
Honda remain engaged in an intensive development process, with moderate expectations for the start of the season. “ Before Sepang, it's a little early for big progress, but we continue to work
», he concludes pragmatically.
Pour Marini2025 promises to be another year of transition where every improvement will count to bring back
Honda at the level of its rivals. A challenge that leaves one cautious
Carlo Pernat who said: “
in my opinion, Yamaha will arrive, while Honda is in great difficulty »…
