Alberto Puig took an interesting approach to today's Grand Prix paddock, regretting that of the past with its outpourings which enhanced daily life. And for good reason: in the imperatives that must be met for MotoGP to regain strength in terms of popularity and audience, the older generation often points out that today's riders are too polite to be honest and, above all, terribly boring. Because fans like controversy fueling a well-identified rivalry structuring camps which then oppose each other. Here’s what the Repsol Honda martial team manager says…
Alberto puig is not what one would identify as a fundamentally affable person, but he represents another era in which one of the characteristics was to say things eye to eye. The atmosphere was much less subdued than today, but at least we knew what to expect. Jorge Lorenzo et Dani Pedrosa passed into the hands of the Spaniard, two pilots whose rivalry did not generate the melancholy of the time of the 250.
Public chat motorcyclesports, he remembers them thus: “ the moment of greatest rivalry occurred in the 250cc class. It was terrible, there was a big rivalry. Underpinning it all was the talent of Dani and Jorge, who single-handedly raised the level of racing considerably. In this category I think Dani had something more than Jorge, but that changed in MotoGP. Then I think it was Jorge who had something else ».
Alberto Puig: “today, people think certain things but don't say them so as not to cross certain limits"
This rivalry was also perceptible in the paddock: “ there are situations in life where we have to do what needs to be done » says Puig. " You can sometimes leave the professional sphere, but I recently spoke to Dani Amatriain, Lorenzo's former manager and he defended his interests and I defended mine. We shouted at each other. Back then there wasn't as much sportsmanship as there is today. It was harder, but there was also less hypocrisy. Today, people think certain things but don't say them so as not to cross certain limits. ».
An analysis that deserves attention in a context where a Jorge Lorenzo recently recognized that he needed to build a " enemy » to boost his motivation. Valentino Rossi was also an expert in the art of controversy and destabilization. But another driver from that lost era didn't have that mentality, and his name is Dani Pedrosa. His view on the matter is different: “ I don't understand, my concept of competition is different. You can't just pretend and create a rivalry out of nothing. It must be something real. Lorenzo didn't love me and he didn't love me ". Yes, but are the hugs and other congratulations in the parc ferme at the end of each race also real or another role play?
