Luca Marini’s wait is over as he finally lines up alongside older brother Valentino Rossi on the 2021 MotoGP grid this weekend.

Making his MotoGP debut aboard the Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati, Marini is the second rider from the Sky VR46 project to secure promotion to the premier class, but the first to do it retaining their typical team colours.

The rookie heads into the opening Qatar race from a very positive first official test - having taken confidence with the new category on both his flying lap and long run performance - however, the Italian knows he has plenty still to learn as the inaugural race weekend unfolds.

“It will be an even more special first race than usual,” Marini explained from the Losail circuit. “I don’t know what to expect but I am sure I will be very excited on the starting grid on Sunday. I am satisfied with the testing sessions and how I have found myself with the bike even though I would have liked to have been able to do a little more kilometres on my Ducati.

“It is important to put into practice what we have learned from the data analysis for improving both the bike and my riding style. The Qatar track is well suited to our bike and I love racing at night, I would say it’s the perfect scenario to start this season.

“I would still like to learn different things” he continued. “For example, a lap time in qualifying, because in MotoGP is quite different compared to Moto2, and in the test I never tried a qualifying simulation. It will be interesting to put a hot lap in two laps here in Qatar. Also that it’s cold, so the tyre temperature is not perfect at the second lap for me, because I need some more laps to heat well the tyres.

It will also be interesting to understand how a MotoGP race works, because in Moto2, at the end I knew the general shape of the race - you have the start and the first two laps that everybody push like hell try to overtake so many riders, then a part in the middle, where everybody’s going with the same pace, so it’s very difficult to recover some tenths, and then at the end, you can, if you have something more, you have more tyre, you can push more, and then you can add something compared to your rivals.

“I don’t know if in MotoGP is the same. I think yes, more or less, but here we have also different factors. There is totally different things, so I want to understand this and learn how it works during a race - if you have to push every lap or if you have to manage the rear tyre, or how we use the slipstream because also the front tyre go high with the pressure, it will be interesting.”

Having successfully navigated Moto2’s adaptation from Honda to Triumph power, does Marini think the new intermediate class structure prepares riders for the jump to the main show?

“My opinion on when the Triumph came to Moto2 was a very big change, very important to prepare all the riders for MotoGP. Before was also a very nice category because we see Pecco, Franko, Zarco, everybody is very strong, but now I think it’s a little bit more precise because it’s more similar, the tyres now are a little bit more similar, closer to the MotoGP tyres.

“Is not the same, the feeling, to ride the Michelin, but some specific situations are quite similar. Also now in Moto2 you can work a little bit on the electronic side, for example engine brake, and also a little bit of torque, you can manage this, so also this helps you to understand how these work.

“In MotoGP everything is bigger, everything is more on the limit but in general, in Moto2 now you can understand how everything is going, to be confident on this and understand how you can improve not only your riding style, for sure, but also your work around all of your performance in the track.”

Avintia team boss Ruben Xaus seems just as confident with his new arrival, explaining, “The countdown is over and we are looking forward to the first race. We are in a good situation and Luca is ready for his debut in the premier class.

“We are all motivated, experienced and we were able to put together a package with the right people and the right material. We have a very young rider, but we can expect to do really well. After the testing days here in Doha I am happy, this is a track that is well suited to the bike and the rider. Luca is fast and will be able to take full advantage on this kind of circuit of the typical riding style he inherits from Moto2.”