Marini, younger brother of former Repsol Honda world champion Valentino Rossi, joins the factory HRC team after spending 💞three seasons in MotoGP at hi🤪s brother’s VR46 Ducati squad.

The Italian, 26, was the last in a long run of rumoured candidates for the seat abandoned by Marquez, including Johann Zarco, Maverick Vina🌳les, Aleix Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira, Fabio di Giannantonio and Pol Espargaro.

Honda’s initial insistence on offering just a single-year contract prompted most riders to step back, leaving di Giannantonio, losing his Gresin🐈𝓀i Ducati ride to Marquez, as favourite for several weeks.

But HRC’s s♉tance softened in order to get the Marini deal over the line and the Italian has signed to helped rebuild Honda’s flagging MotoGP pr𒊎oject on an initial two-year contract.

Although unable to match th♛e race winning exploits of team-mate Marco Bezzecchi, Marini, who has never hidden his desire to rid🦂e for a factory team, took his first MotoGP podium and pole this year and finished eighth in the world championship.

Perhaps as importantly, Marini is considered a smart, analytical rider, famed for his precise feedback and desire to spend h💜ours combing through the data. Qualities Honda will hope can help bring the RC213V 💜back to the front.

Marini will join 2020 world champion Joan Mir at Repsol ⭕next season with another Ducati rider, Johann Zarco, joining LCR alongside Takaaki Nakagami.

di Giannantonio is expected to take over Marini’s VR46 place alongside Bezzec💎chi, on year-old GP23s next season.

Marini will make his Repsol Honda debut in tomorrow's post-race test (Tuesday🤪).