Tech3 KTM have officially confirmed the signing of Italian rider Luca Marini for the 2027 MotoGP season, marking a significant move as the premier class prepares for the new 850cc technical regulations.
The 28-year-old leaves Honda to join Tech3 KTM's satellite operation, signing a direct two-year deal with the team rather than a factory KTM contract. Tech3 team boss Guenther Steiner confirmed the acquisition, describing Marini as the right profile to help KTM rebuild as the sport enters a fresh technical era.
Marini brings substantial top-class experience to the project. He debuted in MotoGP in 2021 with the Esponsorama squad before moving to VR46 Racing — the team backed by his brother Valentino Rossi — where he spent two seasons. A switch to Repsol Honda followed, but with Honda's exit from MotoGP at the end of 2026, Marini needed a new home.
"It's official: Tech3 have announced Luca Marini to join the team from 2027," the team's statement read. The Italian is seen as a developmental rider capable of aiding KTM's push back toward the front of the grid.
His future team-mate remains unconfirmed, though rookie Senna Agius is widely tipped to fill the second seat. The move places Marini as a key figure in KTM's broader 2027 strategy, which also includes the confirmed factory line-up of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
The signing underscores Tech3's ambition to field an experienced roster as MotoGP undergoes its most significant regulation change in years, with engine capacity dropping to 850cc and new chassis rules reshaping the competitive landscape.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1103005/1/luca-marini-set-ktm-motogp-switch-tech3-announces-first-2027-rider
- https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/tech3-signs-luca-marini-for-next-two-seasons/10849451/
