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Honda announced on the Monday after the 2023 season ended that it had signed Marini from VR46 – with whom he already had a 2024 contract in place - on a two-year deal to replace Gresini-bound Marquez. It ended weeks of speculation as to who would get the seat, with Miguel Oliveira initially its favoured option before it ultimately settled on Marini after numerous names appeared as potential replacements. Marini being given a two-year deal breaks with Honda's initial approach of only offering a one-year contract, something that kept Oliveira at the Aprilia satellite team to be taken over by Trackhouse Racing in 2024 following RNF's collapse. Speaking after the announcement, Puig told MotoGP .com that Marini was the first rider to enquire about joining Honda when Marquez's exit was confirmed. "Well, he was the first guy and his group who approach ed us when the news of Marc [leaving] went out," Puig said. "So, we were approa...

Virgil van Dijk has backed his Netherlands international teammate Cody Gakpo to replace the outgoing Roberto Firmino in Liverpool's attack. Liverpool confirmed that Firmino, alongside James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, will leave the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of June, ending a trophy-laden eight season stay on Merseyside. During his final Game at Anfield - in which he scored a late equaliser against Aston Villa - a teary-eyed Firmino said goodbye to the Reds' fa NBA se having scored 110 goals in over 360 appearances. Only 12 of those appearances have come as starts during the 2022/23 Premier League season, and that was largely due to the January signing of Gakpo. The 24-year-old signed for a reported £40m fee from PSV Eindhoven and has thoroughly impressed in the false nine role in recent months - a role formerly played by Firmino. Gakpo has bagged six goals and two assists in his 20 Game s thus far and has become a key component...