**”Aleix Espargaro’s Move to Honda: A Strategic Bet on Experience and Innovation”**

Luca Marini: Aleix's role as test rider a "smart choice by HRC"

"It's intriguing since Aleix was integral to Aprilia's development and eventual success."

When Aleix Espargaro became part of Aprilia in 2017, the team was at the very end of the MotoGP constructors' rankings.

During that period, Honda led the MotoGP scene, securing victories in the riders', teams', and constructors' championships.

Since then, the MotoGP landscape has dramatically changed, with Aprilia climbing to second place in the constructors' standings while Honda has remained in the bottom position since 2022.

Honda is looking to leverage Espargaro's extensive experience, which saw him aid Aprilia's advancement from their struggles in 2017 to achieving their first RS-GP podium in 2021 and securing race wins in 2022, 2023, and 2024. As the Spanish rider nears retirement, he is set to join HRC as a test rider.

Repsol Honda's Luca Marini commented that the situation is likely to be fascinating since the individual in question witnessed Aprilia's development and eventual success firsthand. He played a central role, giving him a deep understanding of the circumstances. Marini believes that while much depends on various factors, HRC has undoubtedly made a smart decision.

The Italian rider, who will be joining Honda next season after spending three years with Ducati, acknowledges that Espargaro has a very unique riding style. However, he doesn't see this as a disadvantage in the process of developing a versatile motorcycle.

"It's definitely intriguing to have Aleix because of his understanding of Aprilia, and if the bike turns out to be suitable for everyone, it will certainly be a quick machine," he stated.

"Similar to the current situation with Ducati, each rider on a Ducati bike has the potential to clinch a victory or contend for a podium finish. The goal is to create an optimal motorcycle that enables everyone to compete for top positions."

The top Honda racer, Joan Mir, who rides alongside Marini, currently holds the 18th spot in the world championship standings. However, according to the Italian, there is a sense that things are about to shift.

He mentioned that Honda has been undergoing changes since the start of this season. Despite the results remaining consistent, there has been noticeable growth and improvement.

"The atmosphere in the garage is palpable. Everyone is putting in maximum effort to change the situation and make a comeback."

"By the conclusion of this season, our aim is to be closer to the top."

Marini secured his first point for Repsol Honda at the latest German MotoGP, following a penalty for Augusto Fernandez, who was relegated from 14th place due to a tyre pressure infraction.

Espargaro, who plans to participate in at least one wild-card race for Honda next season, will be sharing testing responsibilities with Stefan Bradl.

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