Albert Valera's recent statements, awakening the resentments born since the installation of Enea Bastianini in the official Ducati box, in place of his rider Jorge Martin, gave the impression of cowardly attacking an injured and still convalescing. Because if the “Martinator” shows all his talent while being in full possession of his abilities, this is not the case with the “Bestia”, who does not have to prove his recognized value, but who recovers so well only suffered from a shoulder blade injury sustained after Luca Marini caused him to fall during the first Sprint at Portimao. He therefore does not a priori have to demand anything or remake the world, if only out of respect for the third in the last championship who is getting his health back on track. And yet Valera opened Pandora's box from which emerged a furious Carlo Pernat...
It didn't drag on. When Charles Pernat, manager of Enea Bastianini and Tony Arbolino, discovered on the web the statements ofAlbert Valera, manager of Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta, his blood only boiled. We will recall these words: “ if Jorge Martin fought or even won the championship, it would be very stupid not to put him in the factory team. Jorge Martin is a star. I hope Ducati doesn't make the same mistake twice with Martin ».
Speaking on MOW Charles Pernat got very angry Ducati. We read his anger thus: “ This is one of those moments where I'm really upset because I find these decidedly unsporting declarations » he begins before getting to the heart of the matter: “ Enea Bastianini is coming off a very serious injury, he is working like crazy to be at least at 90% of his physical condition and this must have been a reason for Ducati to give the factory team bike to Martin because he will better ? Of course he's better: Enea wasn't there and now that he's back, he's not in good shape yet, it's not like Bastianini is having crappy results like Martin did last year ».
Carlo Pernat: “ Albert Valera should promote his drivers based on what they do, and certainly not by discrediting others »
Feathered also recalls the facts: “ Last year Jorge Martin was the super favorite for the factory bike, but then his season was what it was, while Enea scored podiums and victories. A fucking season can happen and it's not like Martin should be stigmatized, but how can you say that last season Ducati made a mistake by preferring Enea to the Spaniard? If he really expressed himself in these terms, he is truly unsportsmanlike ».
« I think he should highlight his drivers based on what they do, the results they get and certainly not by discrediting others » mentions the Italian again. “ Jorge Martin himself has repeatedly said that he is fine where he is, that he does not want to move from where he is and that it is true that he has the complete and total support of Ducati who treats him exactly like an official. So what was the meaning of Valera's statements? There are contracts and it is clear that things will not change at Ducati at least until the end of next season. The riders know it, I know it and Valera should know it too, given that even Ducati top management has hinted as much on several occasions ».
Charles Pernat concludes: “you have to know how to be sporty and above all know how to respect a driver who may not be yours, but who found himself out of action after half a day of the first Grand Prix of the season and who suffered and worked like crazy to recover on the track even without having found the best physical condition yet. Sport, sportsmanship, does not include such outings. Respect is sacred in sport and must remain so ».
