Luca Marini is confirmed to be leaving the VR46 Racing team ahead of his anticipated switch to Repsol Honda for the 2024 MotoGP World Championship.

Announced on the eve of the 2023 Valencia MotoGP season finale, VR46 Racing moved first to reveal Marini’s departure from the satellite Ducati outfit founded and owned by his brother, Valentino Rossi.

It comes following a fortnight of growing speculation that Marini was closing on a deal to replace eight-time GP World Champion Marc Marquez in the factory HRC Repsol Honda squad next year, a confirmation all-but-inevitably due to follow at some stage this weekend.

If so, it will herald a rather abrupt exit from the VR46 Racing fold for Marini, whose association with the outfit stretches back to his time in the feeder categories too. 

Going on to make his MotoGP debut in 2021 with Avintia Racing, Marini remained on board with the team upon its transition into VR46 Racing from 2022.

“This will be my last race with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team: I thought a lot before making this decision and evaluated the new challenges I will face. 

“I leave behind a fantastic Team that contributed to my growth and knowledge of the technical aspects and complexity that characterise this kind sport. 

“It's time to embrace a new path with enthusiasm, without denying what has been, but with the eyes focused on the future.”