P5 finish ‘just amazing, crazy race but I enjoyed it a lot’ - Marini

Luca Marini has become the second 2021 MotoGP rookie to claim a top five this season - Jorge Martin the other - after claiming P5 at the AustrianGP. 

Marini made a worthwhile gamble to remain on dry tyres during the final five laps in wet conditions, a strategy that saw only Brad Binder on the same tyres finish ahead of the Italian. 

In what was a six rider group battling for second as the final lap began, Marini was the one who made the least amount of mistakes on dry tyres, while only those on wets were eventually able to get ahead. 

Marini briefly got as high as third after trailing Valentino Rossi in what was ‘a crazy race’ but one ‘I enjoyed a lot’. 

"Today was just amazing! I had a crazy race but I enjoyed it a lot. In the dry I was quite fast and competitive - I could also achieve a great result, so I was happy," added Marini. 

"I was thinking about stopping and trying to change the bike, but then I saw that everybody continued and I said ‘okay I follow them’. 

"I waited a little bit more and when the group in front stopped it was just with five laps (remaining) and I said to myself, ‘If I'm losing 30 seconds from doing a stop, it’s better to continue and see at the end of the race where we end up’. 

"It was the right choice so I’m very happy that I was clever and could think it well. Also I’m happy to make the decision in such a critical moment like this. 

"It’s just a pity that the last three corners I was really close to the podium. I gave my 100%, but the last lap was really full wet and very difficult to ride the bike."