On the back of a great 2025 season on board the Honda, where he almost always finished in the top 10 and showed clear improvement over the previous season, Luca Marini is looking ahead to the 2026 MotoGP™ Championship with motivation, and the aim of taking a further step forward. The past year has served as an important source of confirmation for him, both in terms of his level and the work carried out with the team, and now the challenge is to bring a prestigious house like Tokyo back to the top, with an awareness of the responsibility but also of the opportunity he has in his hands.
We had the opportunity to chat with him and hear, beyond the results and rankings, how he experiences this sport every day: his mental approach, the preparation and training, the sacrifices and the path that led him from a boy who loved racing to a top-class rider. A more personal portrait, which helps to understand what's behind the visor when the cameras turn off. And then, inevitably for us at Dainese, we’lltake a look at how he sees the world of protection, a must for feeling comfortable at 300 km/h and more, and giving the very best performance under extreme conditions.
Luca, what's your first motorcycle-related memory?
“It is certainly connected to one of the first times I rode a minibike, not least because I have lots of photos and videos that I have been able to look at over time. I had a red minibike with training wheels and someone behind me pushing me, I don't remember if it was my dad or a member of staff at the Cattolica track. I was 4 years old.”
Who influenced you the most growing up?
“In my evolution as a rider, my brother Valentino was definitely a key factor. I experienced many of his victories from inside the pit box, I saw how he worked and admired how he managed to have fun too. As a child, I definitely followed my dad's example; he took me to minibike races and always supported me at every stage, until I became independent.”
If you hadn't become a motorcycle rider, what would you be today?
“I think I would have been an athlete anyway: I love all forms of sport, I believe it teaches important values that can be useful in everyday life and helps us to tackle any challenge with an optimal approach. I also love the competition and the daily dedication that it takes to be a professional athlete, that behind-the-scenes work that you do at home and that you don't see on TV or social media.”
When did you first decide that you wanted to become a professional rider?
“I realized this was what I wanted when I was 14; up until that point it was all just a game, I liked the feeling of speed, I liked the motorbike for that, but as a child I only thought about having fun. Then came the time when I had to start training, at 14 years old to be precise, and at that point I understood that I had to start giving up other hobbies, like playing football and tennis, other sports that I like.
When you start working as a professional, you don't immediately think about getting to MotoGP. I never thought about it that much, I took it step by step. First you race in the Italian championships and think about winning that, then you see what happens from year to year, whether you want to change bike or category. When you're young, you live in a phase of constant change.”
What advice would you give to a young person who wants to become a professional rider?
“First of all, any young person should really think about whether it’s what they really want, since it is often parents who push their children to do a certain thing and as a child you are not always fully aware of what you want or of what is happening around you. But if you're really sure, which is often the case, you need to surround yourself with people who can help you grow faster and better, such as your parents, an athletic trainer, a mechanic, or someone who can accompany you to competitions.
It also helps to seek advice from people close to you who are older, more experienced, and who have a greater understanding of life in general, and who can guide you. You have to choose the people you surround yourself with carefully; I think this is the most difficult thing.”
What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career so far?
“I have learned that you should always be kind to other people, because if you are kind, good things always come back to you.”
What do you do before the race? Do you have any rituals to get into the right frame of mind?
“I don't do anything in particular, I like to be alone, to concentrate and depending on the situation, the position I’m starting from, whether I'm in a competitive position or not, I have different feelings, but I always try to reach the same level of concentration. In short, there is no real routine, except for the last few minutes when I want to be alone, at least on the grid, to ensure perfect concentration.”
Unlike in many cases, you and the other VR46 Academy riders train together and then go head to head on the track. What's it like running against your training partners? And with your brother?
“For me it's very different going up against them as opposed to someone else - obviously you always try to beat anyone, without a doubt, but it's not the same thing. In particular, with Valentino in 2021, we had a couple of good battles, I think I managed to steal some of his secrets on that occasion, but I think it's a situation that puts both of us in a bit of difficulty, both with him and with the other Academy riders. If you try to overtake, you do it as safely as possible, you do the maneuver in the right place and the right time, being very careful not to pose a risk to them in any way.”
Let's talk a little about your clothing and the topic of safety, a very important issue in light of the speeds and risks you are exposed to on the track. If you could achieve perfection just by snapping your fingers, what improvements would you make to protection?
“The evolution of protection focus on the quest for lightness and comfort, with the same safety standards as today. In any case, I think that the level of protection today is incredible.”
How do you feel safe at 300 kilometers an hour? Are you ever afraid?
“When you’re on the straight with the throttle wide open, you don’t think about whether you’re safe or not, you just try to perform as best you can, and get the best performance you can achieve. At the same time, you subconsciously know that you are protected, your brain knows that in that regard, you are well prepared, and doesn't focus on it anymore; it can focus on other elements.”
What did you think the first time you heard about an airbag inside a motorcycle suit?
“I remember the early days of Dainese’s D-air® well. I thought it was a great invention and that further development was absolutely essential. It was clear from the start that this was going to be the future of protective equipment for motorbike riders.”
Some say that the airbag is like a helmet, which you can't give up once you get used to it. What do you think?
"I agree: once you get used to it, if it’s taken away from you, you feel naked. Having it makes a big difference in terms of perception of danger, and it is precisely this that allows us to go faster and faster - we feel increasingly safe and the limits feel increasingly distant. Even if you fall, barring unforeseen circumstances, safety is always impeccable across the board.”
Do you have any hobbies besides motorbiking?
“The pressure that comes with racing at this level is hard to imagine until you get there, and I didn’t even imagine it would be like this myself. So, when you're at home, you end up looking for peace and quiet, serenity, and sometimes that simply translates into doing nothing, staying at home and taking care of your family, being with those who make you feel good. Well, I love video games, it’s something I find relaxing that I can do at home.”
What is your next goal?
“To win a MotoGP race with Honda and improve myself further, both on and off the track, as a rider and as a person.”
