MotoGP Assen J3 Puig Honda : “sans la chute Marc Marquez aurait été sur le podium”

Alberto Puig takes stock of the last meeting honored by his Repsol Honda troops in Assen. A deadline which followed, within a week, the euphoria of Marc Marquez's victory on the Sachsenring. However, no one in his ranks doubted that this Dutch Grand Prix would be a different story. And she was. It could even have been dramatic after this violent fall during Marc Marquez's tests which shook the convalescing driver not only physically, but also mentally. Because the RC213V had just betrayed him, by imposing on him a figure which was very reminiscent of his accident at Jerez in 2020, and for which he is still paying the consequences…

The Team Director Repsol Honda exuded happiness at the end of the German Grand Prix but a week later, in the Netherlands, he broke out in a cold sweat when he saw his driver Marc Marquez trying to regain his senses in the gravel trap of the route ofAssen, after being catapulted into the air by his Honda. A posture and the course of the accident which was very reminiscent of what had been experienced in July 2020 near Jerez. With the terrible consequences, still measurable, that we know...

The parallel was even made by Marc Marquez himself who, this time, pressed where it hurt: the electronics of the Honda. An accusation which implied endangerment. The tension had just gone up a notch. That being said, during the following hours, the same Marc Marquez brought it down by reporting the technical reaction of his employer and by delivering a service worthy of his reputation which Alberto Puig recalls as follows: “ he gained almost ten positions in a single round. It was the Marc we know » insists the Spaniard on his compatriot 28 years old who, with his seventh place under the checkered flag, could claim a comeback from 20th position on the starting grid.

The eight-time World Champion declared that his machine had the potential for a podium. Puig confirms: “ the fall made the weekend even more complicated. Without her, Marc could have fought for the podium. But he lost confidence in the accident. Everyone tried to solve the problem. But this is not enough he said.

The same Puig remember, however, thatAssen was in any case expected to be a different story than the Sachsenring: “ the Sachsenring is a track that suits the Honda and also Marc Marquez very well. Marc had his chance there and he took it with both hands. In the past, however, Assen has never been an easy track and it has been much more difficult for all Honda riders. We knew it wasn't going to be easy before we got there ».

Puig admits he expected more from Pol Espargaró

Which brings us to talk about the other RC213V drivers. Alex Marquez was anonymous, Nakagami made an illusion, but it's on its pilot Pol Espargaro, who finished 10th, 18 seconds behind his teammate, who lingers Alberto Puig : " we expected him to have a good race. We really had high hopes, but he too had problems to face ».

Assen showed that not all problems had been resolved at Honda. There is still a lot of work to be done at the factory. Puig and his team want to make the most of the summer break and emphasize: “ it was not easy. Now part of our team will return to Japan and rest first. It is not easy for our Japanese employees to spend all their time in Europe. We've collected a lot of data from all these races and we know we have our weak points. In Japan, they will study them, work hard and will come back with promising ideas ". And then Marc Marquez will be rested and will also have progressed in his fitness.

MotoGP Assen J3: classification

Credit classification motogp.com