Luca Marini says he is ready for ‘another thrilling milestone’ in his career as he prepares to make his MotoGP World Championship debut in factory Repsol Honda Team colours.

The Italian will fill the esteemed boots of Marc Marquez in the works-backed HRC squad alongside Joan Mir after switching from VR46 Racing over the winter this season, with the weekend’s Qatar MotoGP in Lusail representing his first outing.

Hoping to capitalise on sweeping changes made to the Honda RC213V - which has struggled versus its European rivals in recent seasons - Marini admits he still has work to do to find his best level on the machine, but feels he is making good progress.

“The time has come to go racing again, and now I get to do it as part of the Repsol Honda Team. It is another thrilling milestone in the journey I have been on since the end of last year. 

“Every time we work together as a team we are able to find something and make more steps forward. 

“This first weekend will give us the opportunity to finalise some details from the test and also understand better how to work during a race weekend together. 

“We have work to do, and I am eager to start it as a factory Honda rider.”

Joan Mir ready to start from scratch for 2024 MotoGP

While Marini will be making his first steps as a Honda rider in Qatar, for team-mate Joan Mir it will be a second shot at success after a dismal 2023 MotoGP campaign beset by injuries and issues getting comfortable on the RC213V.

“Another season is finally here! Always you’re excited to start the year and to get back racing because there is nothing like racing a MotoGP machine. 

“We have had some good time between the test and this weekend to keep training and put everything in place to start the year. 

“I am happy with how everything has been progressing and I am confident we can keep making improvements over the course of the Qatar GP. 

“It will be a weekend of building and capitalising on the important moments, our aim is to start stronger than we did last season to begin the year in a positive way.”