Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Luca Marini ruled out of Australian MotoGP, leaving Honda without factory riders
Luca Marini has been ruled out of the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island after a virus left him with fever and muscle weakness.
The Italian Honda rider completed only two laps in Friday’s opening practice before stopping.
A medical examination on Saturday found him unfit to ride, with weakness affecting his upper and lower body.
Honda team-mate Joan Mir was already absent from the event because of health problems.
Honda’s factory team will have no riders for the rest of the Australian GP weekend, as test riders Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro are also unavailable through injury or surgery.
The team is already dealing with a depleted line-up, adding to the disruption at the Australian race.
Marini hopes to return at next weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, where doctors will assess his condition again.
Luca Marini has been ruled unfit to continue at the Australian Grand Prix after a viral illness caused fever and muscle weakness.
His withdrawal leaves Honda’s factory team without riders for the rest of the Phillip Island weekend, as team-mate Joan Mir is also absent.
Marini completed only two laps in Friday’s opening practice session and missed the afternoon session.
MotoGP medical director Angel Charte said Marini had the same symptoms during a Saturday morning examination.
Marini is targeting a return at next weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, where he will undergo another medical check.
- Who
- Luca Marini, a factory Honda rider, was ruled unfit. Honda team-mate Joan Mir is also absent.
- What
- Marini withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix, leaving Honda’s factory team without riders for the rest of the weekend.
- When
- Saturday morning, after a medical examination. The withdrawal followed Marini’s illness and limited participation on Friday.
- Where
- Phillip Island, Australia.
- Why
- A viral illness caused fever and muscle weakness, affecting Marini’s upper and lower body.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Marini completed two laps in the opening practice session, then sat out the afternoon’s Practice session.
MotoGP medical director Angel Charte examined Marini and declared him unfit to continue.
Marini is targeting a return at the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he will undergo another medical check.
- Rider
- Luca Marini
- Team
- Honda factory team
- Circuit
- Phillip Island
- Practice laps completed
- 2
- Medical decision
- Declared unfit on Saturday morning
- Potential return
- Malaysian Grand Prix, next weekend
4 sources
What people are saying
For the past week, Luca Marini has been suffering from a viral condition and a high fever for three to four days
For the last 48 to 72 hours, he has been suffering from muscle weakness caused by the virus, affecting both his upper and lower body.
During the last examination, conducted on Saturday morning, he presented with the same symptoms and was declared unfit.
His target is to return next weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix where he will undergo another medical check.