Moto2, who will win? The pros and cons of Luca Marini

He is known to most as “Valentino Rossi’s brother” but, in truth, Luca Marini has grown over the years, his results speaking for themselves. So much so that Ducati has come knocking, wanting him in MotoGP next year. Time will tell as to whether he moves up as Moto2 world champion or not.

The last race

The battle for the title in the intermediate class is still wide open heading into the final round, with Enea Bastianini leading ahead of a Sam Lowes who is not in the best shape and “Maro” himself, who has an 18-point deficit. More than a few, but not too many, particularly now that the 23-year old has found his way again.

Luca started the season in a particular “state of grace”, clocking up three wins, two second place finishes and two pole positions, which saw him take the championship lead.

The crisis

His victory at Montmelò was then followed by a more difficult period, in which he appeared to lose confidence aboard the Kalex and score two consecutive zeros, at Le Mans (seventeenth) and Aragon (DNF) before scoring just 15 points over the next two races.  At the latest Valencia GP, he picked up the pace to close inside the top five, and ahead of the “Bestia”. A positive sign, particularly ahead of the final round, where everything is at stake.

Moto2, who will win? The pros and cons of Sam Lowes

Blind date

The final race will take place at a track that is unknown to many. The championship will run here for the first time and every session will be essential in order to adapt to the undulating Portimao, where the riders are in for some blind turns. After all the efforts and sacrifices of this strange and difficult year, the Sky Racing Team VR46 rider will battle it out with his rivals as he attempts to add his name to the Moto2 history books.

Far from an easy task, but if Marini is able to bring the Luca we saw during the opening round, perhaps lifting the title trophy becomes a mission possible. This, before he goes on to achieve every rider’s dream, or rather to race in MotoGP in the reigning class, which has double meaning for him in that he will also achieve his other great dream, to race with his brother, Valentino Rossi.

Translated by Heather Watson

Moto2, who will win? The pros and cons of Enea Bastianini