For Marini, who has been sidelined: injuries are part of the job and provide energy

It’s not just in 2026; even though Honda works rider Joan Mir has the highest crash rate of any MotoGP rider in Grand Prix races – half of all his attempts ended off the track – the suspicion persists that the Honda RC213V is considered unpredictable and prone to crashes. This perception was further fuelled by his team-mate Johann Zarco, who topped the crash statistics in 2025.

Honda factory rider Luca Marini, on the other hand, consistently proves the opposite. Rossi’s half-brother is regarded as extremely steady on the bike. By way of comparison: Whilst the Italian has gone off the track a total of 29 times in over 70 events since the start of 2023 – around three and a half years ago – long-standing star Marc Márquez has crashed 78 times over the same period – on average, the champion crashes at least once per event, whereas Marini does not even crash in every second race.

2026: Six crashes, no injuries

In the current season, however, the number 10 Honda rider is no longer standing out quite so much. Since the season opener in Buriram, Marini has fallen off his bike six times – as often as Fabio Quartararo or Toprak Razgatlioglu, and even more often than Alex Rins. By way of comparison: Joan Mir and Jorge Martin share the top spot with 16 crashes each.

One unsurprising consequence of staying in the saddle is the low risk of injury. The fact that even Marini is not infallible was demonstrated last year, of all places, during a visit to the paddock at the Endurance World Championship. During a test for the 8-hour classic at Suzuka, Luca Marini crashed so badly that MotoGP had to manage without the Honda works rider for three events.

So far in 2026, Marini has been spared any serious injuries. The breaks, including the period of just over three weeks between the Sachsenring and Silverstone, did not need to be rescheduled to accommodate rehabilitation. In an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com, however, Marini also made it clear that it is not a matter of avoiding risk at all costs. The statements made by the family man reflect a healthy outlook.

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28.08.2026 - 08:55

Injuries as a source of motivation

Luca Marini: “Every injury, whether minor or serious, always triggers a huge surge in motivation. Because after a crash resulting in injuries, the question immediately becomes: How can I get back in the best possible shape as quickly as possible? And also – how can I use the period of rehab and physio to perhaps come back even stronger, to keep improving myself.’

Marini: «Verletzungen gehören dazu»

Foto: Gold and Goose

The 29-year-old continues: “I can say that it’s not true that an injury drags you down mentally. In such a situation, it’s about adapting to it and making the best of the time you have. Instead of normal training, it’s much more about working with a physiotherapist. The rhythm is different then; you focus solely on working with your body.”

Rebound effect

Marini’s comments are noteworthy: “Injuries can also have the effect of strengthening you mentally. In my case, there’s always been a rebound effect that releases positive energy. Although, of course, everyone deals with such things differently – but for me, that’s definitely how it is.”

In a week’s time, Luca Marini will head into the Aragon GP ranked 10th in the World Championship as the top Honda rider. After three years, Marini will be leaving HRC at the end of this season – it is considered a certainty that number 10 will be riding a KTM RC16 when the 850cc era begins.