With Suzuki leaving at the end of next season, from 2023 only Yamaha and Honda will remain as Japanese manufacturers in MotoGP. Furthermore, Yamaha will be the only manufacturer to race with an inline engine. The Iwata factory has shown no indication of surrendering to V4 engines in MotoGP and will continue to develop the M1 inline engine, which has already been criticized this year by Fabio Quartararo.
After months and weeks without an official confirmation, the Frenchman has renewed his contract with the Japanese manufacturer and behind this decision, there could be a second signing that Yamaha made… It turns out that in order to convince Quartararo to stay, Yamaha has Allegedly hired an Italian engineer to develop the engine of Quartararo’s bike, as well as those of Franco Morbidelli, Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder.
Slowly, the Italian school has been gaining ground at the pinnacle of motorcycling. Well established at Ducati, Luigi Dall’Igna was the man responsible for developing the DesmosediciGP from late 2013. At KTM, Fabiano Sterlacchini – Dall’Igna’s former right-hand man – was hired last year to help develop the RC16 and at Aprilia, Romano Albesiano has made the RS-GP one of the most desirable bikes in the paddock.
Now Yamaha appears to have surrendered their Italian expertise and has reportedly hired Luca Marmorini as reported by Manuel Pecino on the YouTube channel Motogepeando. Although the name may not be easily recognized by the public, Marmorini did work for the Ferrari Formula 1 team in the 1990s. He joined Toyota and was Technical Director of the Japanese marque’s engines at the pinnacle of motorsport, leaving the constructor in early 2009 to return to Ferrari in October of the same year. In 2014, Marmorini left the house of Maranello.
Although it has not been made official, the hiring of an Italian engineer by a Japanese manufacturer should be given due consideration, given the tradition of Japanese manufacturers placing their faith in national talent. With Marmorini reportedly working on the M1 engine, Honda becomes the only manufacturer in MotoGP not to have an Italian engineer as a key pillar in the development of its racing prototype.