The Repsol Honda awning will give us the opportunity to experience a historic moment in MotoGP: that of seeing two brother teammates, wearing exactly the same colors. However, the level will not be identical. At least a priori. Alongside a newly promoted Álex Márquez from Moto2 who left with the world title, there will in fact be the eight-time World Champion who has dominated the category since 2013, with the exception of the 2015 vintage. The game will therefore not be easy for the cadet who will have to earn his legitimacy in a season which will be merciless, because it is short and intense. Álex only has a one-year contract. And team manager Alberto Puig says: Marquez or not, we will have to convince…
The 2020 season has not yet started even though we are in May. In all likelihood she will set off on July 19 in Jerez, provided that the coronavirus runs out of steam. From there, the meetings will continue until November. The kind of pace a beginner wouldn't want with only a one-year contract. However, this is precisely the case ofAlex Marquez. What's more, within a Repsol Honda team considered to be the best. Suffice it to say that the room for error is asymptote to zero…
To relieve the pressure, the illustrious older brother Marc put forward the idea of a frozen transfer market in view of the exceptional circumstances, as was decided for the engine and aerodynamic developments. Renewal for 2021 would thus be assured for the cadet álex. But Alberto puig, the team manager, doesn’t seem to hear it that way: “ we gave him a chance because we thought it was right. He didn't have an easy start, although he was surprisingly good in Malaysia ", said Alberto puig during the Sepang test, where the reigning Moto2 world champion was certainly 18th, but losing only 0,693 seconds on the Yamaha of Fabio Quartararo. In the Qatar test, however, the gap increased to 1,661 seconds, with Álex leaving only the Aprilia rider Bradley Smith behind him. “ I'm pretty sure if we give him the bike we already have in mind he'll be better », However assured the manager of the Repsol Honda team to MotoGP.com.
Puig also warned: “ I'm not saying it will be easy. But he will at least start at a point where he feels much more comfortable on the bike. He must then develop his potential and fight in each race as if it were the last day of his life. Every day is like the last, you have to fight like crazy. This will also be the case for him. He has a one-year contract. Now we have to wait until we get back on the track to see what he can do »
Alberto Puig's recipe for being a champion seems simple, but…
But this year 2020 will be special: “ everyone understands that a shorter timeline means you can't afford to make mistakes ", said Puig by examining the emergency plan put in place by Dorna. " But you also can't expect to win a title by staying behind. In the end, man has to show up, he has to take risks, he has to be smart not to fall and he has to be the fastest. And if the bike is not 100% ready on a track, it must compensate with its capabilities. On other circuits where the bike is super good, you have to take advantage of it »
For one thing is certain, whether the season is long or short, “ to win a championship you have to win races. » It seems obvious like that, but we will remember that the manager of Márquez, which is none other thanEmilio Alzamora, won the 125 cc world championship in 3 with the particularity of have never won in the season...
