Honda announced on Monday it had signed Italian Luca Marini, the half-brother of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, to a two-year deal with its factory team.
Marini, 26, will take over from Marc Marquez, the six-time world champion who is leaving Honda a year early to join his brother at Ducati satellite team Gresini Racing.
After making his MotoGP debut in 2021, Marini earned his first two podium finishes this season -- in the United States and Qatar -- as he came eighth overall riding for VR46, the Ducati satellite team owned by Rossi.
He also finished in the top three in four sprint races and twice took pole position. Marini will get a first outing on his new Japanese bike at the post-season tests in Valencia on Tuesday.
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