VOLUME ISSUE MARCH , P97
#10 LUCA MARINI
VR46 DUCATI
Arguably the most improved rider
of last year, Marini will break his
premier-class podium duck sooner
rather than later if testing perfor
-
mances are anything to go by. Quick-
est at both Valencia and Sepang,
the cerebral Italian has taken benefit
from riding Bagnaia's title winning
machine all through preseason. No
reason why he can't challenge to
become the year's best satellite con
-
tender and multiple podium finisher,
even on year-old equipment.
#5 JOHANN ZARCO
PRAMAC DUCATI
A muted preseason by his standards, Zarco
was the only Ducati rider outside the top nine
at Sepang. But there's no reason to think the
experienced Frenchman won't score at least a
handful of podiums, even if he split from train-
ing partner Jean Michel Bayle during the winter.
What's of greater importance is the double
Moto2 champ understands why he continues
to underperform in the second half of seasons.
He scored 56 points less in the second half of
2021 than the first, 71 less in '22. At the age of
32 can Zarco change these old habits?
