Marini turns a second-row start into a point for Honda

Luca Marini qualified the factory Honda sixth at Misano, then finished ninth in the Sprint to take the final point. Johann Zarco was tenth after starting 11th. Honda is not yet matching the pace of the leading Ducatis and Aprilias, but putting both RC213Vs at or near the points on this circuit is a useful sign.

Marini lost three places without dropping out of the top nine; there is no need to add a rear-tyre drop explanation that the available evidence does not establish. On Sunday his target is to defend the top ten over 27 laps. Zarco will start three places further back after impeding Bezzecchi in Q2, making his recovery more difficult.