Luca Marini claims MotoGP best, ‘podium pace but…’

The Italian put the performance on a par with his fifth at the Sachsenring this year, gaining an extra position at the Red Bull Ring when Jorge Martin crashed out on the last lap.

But Marini finished three-seconds closer to the top in Austria (+8.3s), despite having to fight his way from 13th on the grid compared to seventh in Germany.

It was the ‘disastrous’ qualifying that Marini feels prevented him from joining the podium battle, settling into ninth in the early stages before clawing his way forwards.

Marini overtook title contender Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia for fifth with 8 laps remaining, before being gifted fourth by Martin’s turn one tumble.

“I put these two races [Austria and Sachsenring] in the same level. Just that today Jorge crashed so I could achieve a better position, but it was a very similar race to the Sachsenring,” said Marini, who crossed the line half-a-second clear of Pramac Ducati's Johann Zarco.

“My pace was really strong. I could fight for the podium, but unfortunately, I was starting from behind and this in MotoGP now is a disaster! Because if you want to recover the gap then you destroy the tyres, especially the rear tyre, and at the end you struggle too much.

“I tried to recover the gap in braking, but everybody is braking so late, so it's not easy. But I had the same pace as all the other top riders and this makes me really happy.”

The VR46 rider, who had a revised crew as well as teething problems with the GP22 to adapt to at the start of this season, is now looking to the Misano test for the step froward he needs to claim a debut podium.

“My feeling is good. I think that we need to make some changes on the bike to be at 100%, but we are getting closer. I think we need to wait for the Misano test because in the normal GP we don't have time [to try things],” he said.

“Like this weekend, was impossible, because here we have a different [stiffer] tyre casing. Also, the electronic side was really complicated in this track, so we worked a lot on tyres and electronics and didn't have time to change something else on the bike.”

Less practice time in 2023

There will be even less time to work on bike set-up during MotoGP weekends in 2023, when a new Sprint race will replace FP4 on a Saturday afternoon.

“I hope to be one of the guys that has a perfect setting from the beginning of the season and don't ask for nothing from the first race to the last!” Marini said.

“I think this can make the difference next year. Because you won't have time. You just focus on electronics and tyres and then the bike will stay the same.”

Another change for next season is that final practice (FP3) will be held in the morning and therefore not at the same time as the race (s).

“Then it is a shit practice for trying something!” Marini joked. “So you just focus on don't crash and prepare for qualifying. That’s it.

“But, about the new bikes [for 2023], I think nobody can make so big an evolution next year because now all the manufacturers are at a top level.

“Maybe [only] the aerodynamics side is something that [MotoGP engineers] can explore a little bit more.”

Reminded of Gigi Dall’Igna’s reputation for innovation, Marini quipped: “Gigi will bring something!”

Rookie team-mate Marco Bezzecchi, who took a podium finish at Assen on the GP21, finished in ninth place at the Red Bull Ring.