Luca Marini feels that Honda will need more than set-up changes if it is to fight for MotoGP podiums this season.

The Italian secured HRC’s best result of the year so far with fifth place in the COTA Sprint.

That result was aided by incidents ahead, including for team-mate Joan Mir, who had impressed with fifth in qualifying while Marini lined up ninth.

Marini then finished the grand prix in the same position he started, while Mir crashed again, this time from sixth.

“Now the most important thing is to focus on qualifying,” Marini said.

“[But] I think for the level that we have, P5 is a really big result for us at the moment.

“We still need to think more [realistically] on 6th, 7th and 8th. But we want to improve, we want to achieve a better result.

“We cannot think to end this season with this performance, because we want to be fighting for the podium at least in some GPs this season.”

Marini underlined that further progress would require upgrades rather than set-up gains.

“With the setup I think we did a fantastic job this winter. I worked very well with my crew. They did a fantastic job listening to my feedback. And I think we have a very good base. But we need some bigger items,” he explained.

“For sure we have some ideas. We know that we need to improve on the entry phase of the corner. Try to find more turning in that moment, a little bit more stability to let the riders be more aggressive and less on the limit.

“And always the rear grip. But we know [that] from the long story.”

Marini highlighted aerodynamics as a key area for improvement and suggested Honda should begin integrating elements of its 2027 850cc project this season.

“Sincerely, on the aero, there is still a lot of margin to improve with our bike. 

“But I know that without concessions this year, we already have everything set. So it’s something that Honda must think more about for] the future.

“I just advise them to try all the little details of the aero that they can bring to the ‘27 project, also this year. Because we can have some advantage even this year.”

Marini is tenth and the top Honda rider in the world championship standings heading into the opening European round at Jerez later this month.

However, like Mir, his future remains unclear amid rumours that Honda is planning a Fabio Quartararo-David Alonso line-up next season.

The factory’s 850cc prototype is thought to have undergone further track testing in the hands of Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami during a private outing at Sepang earlier this week, when Espargaro suffered back injuries in a ‘heavy crash’.

Honda, which broke out of the lowest D concession ranking at the end of last season, is currently fourth in the constructors’ championship, ahead of only Yamaha.

Luca Marini feels that Honda will need more than set-up changes if it is to fight for MotoGP podiums this season.

The Italian secured HRC’s best result of the year so far with fifth place in the COTA Sprint.

That result was aided by incidents ahead, including for team-mate Joan Mir, who had impressed with fifth in qualifying while Marini lined up ninth.

Marini then finished the grand prix in the same position he started, while Mir crashed again, this time from sixth.

“Now the most important thing is to focus on qualifying,” Marini said.

“[But] I think for the level that we have, P5 is a really big result for us at the moment.

“We still need to think more [realistically] on 6th, 7th and 8th. But we want to improve, we want to achieve a better result.

“We cannot think to end this season with this performance, because we want to be fighting for the podium at least in some GPs this season.”

Marini underlined that further progress would require upgrades rather than set-up gains.

“With the setup I think we did a fantastic job this winter. I worked very well with my crew. They did a fantastic job listening to my feedback. And I think we have a very good base. But we need some bigger items,” he explained.

“For sure we have some ideas. We know that we need to improve on the entry phase of the corner. Try to find more turning in that moment, a little bit more stability to let the riders be more aggressive and less on the limit.

“And always the rear grip. But we know [that] from the long story.”

Marini highlighted aerodynamics as a key area for improvement and suggested Honda should begin integrating elements of its 2027 850cc project this season.

“Sincerely, on the aero, there is still a lot of margin to improve with our bike. 

“But I know that without concessions this year, we already have everything set. So it’s something that Honda must think more about for] the future.

“I just advise them to try all the little details of the aero that they can bring to the ‘27 project, also this year. Because we can have some advantage even this year.”

Marini is tenth and the top Honda rider in the world championship standings heading into the opening European round at Jerez later this month.

However, like Mir, his future remains unclear amid rumours that Honda is planning a Fabio Quartararo-David Alonso line-up next season.

The factory’s 850cc prototype is thought to have undergone further track testing in the hands of Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami during a private outing at Sepang earlier this week, when Espargaro suffered back injuries in a ‘heavy crash’.

Honda, which broke out of the lowest D concession ranking at the end of last season, is currently fourth in the constructors’ championship, ahead of only Yamaha.