Racing - players.bio

Honda Brings In Luca Marini To Replace Marc Marquez In MotoGP

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. He will pair up at Honda with 2020 world champion Joan Mir, who endured a disastrous past season in which he finished 22nd after scoring only 26 points. Honda finished bottom of the constructors' standings this season, just as they did in 2022.

HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen Withdraw From Syed Modi International

Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen have pulled out of the Syed Modi International, taking some sheen out of the Super 300 badminton tournament starting on Tuesday. Asian Games bronze medallist Prannoy had recovered from a back injury to reach the semifinals at China Masters Super 750, while Canada Open winner Sen, world No. 17, hasn't looked his self with six first-round exit since August. It has been a hectic schedule for the players and with the Olympic qualification on the line, players would like to be fresh for the next season. The BWF 'Race to Paris Ranking Lists' of 30 April will be considered for qualification. Olympic medallist P V Sindhu is also missing in action as she recovers from an injury. World No. 24 Kidambi Srikanth is now the top-ranked Indian in men's singles draw, which also has Tokyo Olympian B Sai Praneeth, Indonesian Masters Super 100 winner Kiran George and Priyanshu Rajawat, who won the Orleans Masters Super 300 title this year.

MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi To Compete In Endurance Championship

Retired Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who has switched from two wheels to four, will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) next season, according to the list of participants published on Monday. The seven-time MotoGP world champion, will race with the Belgian WRT team, driving one of 18 cars entered in the LMGT3 class, which replaces the LMGTE Am category.