Marini, who has already made his Honda deb💖ut during this morning’s Valencia test, quickly became the favourite when Honda failed to convince Maverick Vinales and Miguel Olive🐬ira to join the factory team.

Marini’s decision to🎐 join Honda means leaving behind Ducati who have the most complete package o🌸n the grid. 

• FIRST LOOK: Marc Marquez on a Ducati, Luca Marini at Honda, Acos♌ta in MotoGP 
• Valencia MotoGP test: LI♕VE UPDATES as Marc Marquez makes Du♛cati debut

Speaking to MotoGP.com, Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig gave his thoughts on the Marini signing: “He was the first guy with his group that appr𓃲oached us after the news that Marc we💙nt out, so we were approached by them and it’s interesting. 

“Honestly, there were not so many options because most riders were more-or-less all settled in their ✱own teams. 

“He had💝 the possibility to do it and his progression has been good i𝄹n the last few years. 

“We stu🌸d♕ied his progression and decided it could be a good option given the circumstances.”

Able t💦o bring experience and data from Ducati, Marini’s addition to Honda could be invaluable, especially with Johann Zarco also ✃joining LCR from Pramac Ducati.

Needing to turn their fortunes ꧑around very soon, Puig iꦜs looking forward to counting on the Italian’s experience.  

Puig said: “I♕t’s very important! The first thing and what is our priority at the moment is to develop our bike. 

“We are far from were we haꦗve to be and this is clear. Our priority is to make a step in the development of our bike for next season and be🍸yond. 

“We are trying to make a new team, a new structure and new ✅organisation that will help 𒆙this development.”