#pi25

Honda's Mr. Dependable, Luca Marini is now exactly the rider it will have hoped it signed back in 2023 - and this weekend he was a steadying presence that prevented it from being a massive disappointment for the manufacturer. The RC213V was seemingly nothing special here, which was not too surprising, and lacked turning. Ninth on the grid was solid in light of that, though Marini came to regret how he handled Turn 1 in the sprint - ending up in a melee that he wanted no part of. That was the only time in the weekend where his grasp on the position of lead Honda rider looked at all like slipping. He was rock solid on Sunday, and - in very Marini fashion - saw no issue in pointing out that "against my team-mates I did a very good weekend" and that the target now is to beat Johann Zarco to finish as top Honda in the standings. The gap is eight points, but Marini outscored Zarco in five of the last six. It really does help when a rider just outright refuses to crash.