Luca Marini, who suffered the fewest falls of any full-time MotoGP rider this season, has credited Honda\u2019s \u201cfriendly\u201d front end and technical improvements to the rear of the RC213V.<\/p>\n
Although sidelined for three rounds due to a serious injuries from a mid-season superbike testing crash, Marini didn\u2019t fall during a grand prix weekend until round 20 at Sepang.<\/p>\n
The HRC<\/a> rider finished the season with just three official accidents, a tally beaten only by wild-card and replacement riders.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a very good feeling with the bike,\u201d Marini<\/a> explained.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time I’m pushing at the limit, but when I lose the front, I can save it, because the Honda gives me a very good feeling in this way. It’s much better compared to the bike in the past.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot see me on TV because I’m still too much in the back, but I risk crashing many times. But as I said, it’s like a friendly bike in this area, especially for the front, and I can save it many times.\u201d<\/p>\n Marini added that the risk of rear-end highsides had been reduced \u2018technically\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout the rear – because in the past with Honda you could crash also with the rear tyre, with the highside – we improved something technically on the bike that allowed us to solve this problem.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you make a big mistake, you can still crash, but we did a very big step forward in this area, and the bike is now much more easy and friendly to ride, also in the rear.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Marini\u2019s almost mistake-free season contrasted with the fortunes of several other Honda riders.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n LCR\u2019s Johann Zarco topped the MotoGP falls list with 28 accidents<\/a>, with Marini\u2019s HRC team-mate Joan Mir <\/a>fifth on the list with 22 accidents, although not all of the accidents were their own fault.<\/p>\n Zarco\u2019s rookie team-mate Somkiat Chantra<\/a>, who missed five rounds due to injury, fell eight times.<\/p>\n