Honda will field only Luca Marini at the Australian Grand Prix on 23–25 October. Joan Mir has not yet been cleared to return on medical advice, while test rider Aleix Espargaro is preparing for arm surgery. The team has appointed no other substitute. Marini arrives at Phillip Island in 12th place, with Honda identifying the championship’s top ten as his target.
Honda’s factory MotoGP team will compete at the Australian Grand Prix with Luca Marini as its only rider. Joan Mir remains absent, and the team has appointed no substitute for the weekend.[1], [2]
The race weekend at Phillip Island runs from 23 to 25 October and is the season’s 18th round. Honda says medical advice judged a return too early for Mir, who continues his recovery.[1]
Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro is unavailable after experiencing arm compartment syndrome during a private test at Sepang in Malaysia. Honda says he will undergo surgery in Barcelona in the coming days. He had voluntarily withdrawn from the Indonesian Grand Prix and will not travel to Australia. With no other replacement appointed, the team’s preparations for Phillip Island centre on Marini.[1]
Marini is 12th in the riders’ standings, 17 points behind the top-ten positions held by Fermin Aldeguer and Enea Bastianini. Honda identifies closing that gap as a target. He finished in the top ten twice at Phillip Island last year, matching his best results there. Five races remain, with Australia opening three consecutive race weekends. The Australian round moves to Adelaide in 2027 after this final Phillip Island MotoGP event.[1]
