Luca Marini believes Honda’s 2026 MotoGP bike still has the ability to compete in the top six, even though the team has struggled for results so far this season. The Italian rider says the RC213V has shown improvements but poor qualifying positions have held the package back in races.
Honda entered the 2026 season with expectations of progress after finishing the 2025 campaign outside the lowest MotoGP concession band at the Valencia finale. However, the first four rounds have delivered mixed results. The best finish for a Honda so far was seventh place by Joan Mir in the Buriram sprint, and even Yamaha’s new V4 machine has managed a sixth place with Fabio Quartararo in the Brazilian sprint.
Marini says the bike is capable of stronger results than the standings suggest, but starting races from the middle or back of the grid has made it difficult to show its true pace. He began 14th on the grid in Thailand and 19th in Brazil, setbacks he says hindered his race weekends.
Looking ahead to the MotoGP round at the Circuit of the Americas, Marini remains optimistic. He enjoys the Texas venue and believes it is a track where a rider can make a strong difference. He hopes the Honda has improved sufficiently since the last visit to fight nearer the front of the field.
Marini sits twelfth in the championship standings heading into Austin, just one point behind the top Honda in the rankings, LCR’s Johann Zarco. Meanwhile, Mir suffered a difficult weekend in Brazil with retirements in both races, highlighting the inconsistent form Honda has faced early in 2026.
