Carlo Pernat is a columnist who likes to put his two cents into a paddock that he knows like the back of his hand and which always provides him with the raw material, namely rumor. But he is also a wise and sought-after manager. The Italian chooses his flock and today he manages the best interests of Tony Arbolino and Enea Bastianini. The latter, after an exemplary 2022 season which opened the doors of the Ducati factory to him, has therefore moved into another sporting, political and economic dimension. The manager's mission becomes all the more sensitive. The 75-year-old veteran who is no longer told tells us everything about a situation that his other colleagues always shroud in great secrecy...
Because what will tell us here Charles Pernat is of course to be declined on the other pilots both in substance and in form, in the absence of figures. Enea Bastianini is his foal, and he takes good care of it. In comments read on Motoracing, taken from the issue “Sportaction” by Franco Bobbiese, it begins by laying the foundations of the sporting challenge which is coming in 2023… “ Enea Bastianini is tough, he does not and will not play team games ". That being said, he adds: “ they are two completely different drivers: Bagnaia is fast and regular, Bastianini is more like Stoner, a tightrope walker, he overtakes cleanly but he does it when it's most difficult. It will be a good battle, but that's normal ».
A battle that started in 2022, but Carlo Pernat swear that it could have happened differently with a little more discernment on the part of the Borgo Panigale factory…” This rivalry was built by Ducati unconsciously. At one point there was talk of teamwork, but at that point a dualism was created. Enea was playing for the championship or at least for the first three places. Financially it's worth a lot of money. I have often asked Ducati to guarantee us at least third place, but they have always pushed back the deadline ». A silence which opened the way to fratricidal duels that a financial guarantee could have nipped in the bud...
Carlo Pernat: “I always tell my pilots to worry about the product and safety and not a difference of 100 euros"
The sporting aspect of the matter having been dealt with, it is the turn of the financial side to be exposed: “the contract expires at the end of 2024, if he finishes first, second or third, the salary triples” explains Pernat. “But it's not just Ducati, we have Alpinestars, KYT with decent figures, we have Tissot for whom Enea will be ambassador around the world for three years, and other sponsors who equate to other bonuses. There is a big difference between the first and the second.
But the manager also says that it's not all a question of cashing checks... So on helmets, an item that recently made the news with the manufacturer changes made by Aleix Espargaró et fabio quartararo : " I always tell my pilots to worry about the product and safety and not a difference of 100 euros ". And he ends with this aspect: “ Enea chose Alpinestars and KYT, we renewed for three years and changed the numbers. It's me who negotiates, I know what I want and what they can give me ».
Charles Pernat concludes his remarks with the third domain after sports and economics which is politics. The opportunity for the Italian to talk about Marc Marquez... " Managing a pilot is like managing a business, several drivers came to see me, including Dennis Foggia, many parents of 12-13 year old boys… The life of a manager is very hard, I am 75 years old… Our generation was that of handshakes, friendly contracts . Today you enter into a contract with your lawyers, but it can change at any time ».
A situation verified with Marc Marquez who changed managers: “ When a relationship breaks down after 20 years, there is always a big problem. In my opinion, it was not a question of money, but after this period of chaos, Emilio Alzamora entered into conflict with Honda, who no longer accepted him. He could accept everything from Marc but not from Alzamora, so they showed him the way out ". And he concludes: “ Marc Marquez had no other choice, there were multi-million dollar contracts on the line ". In MotoGP, when you reach a certain level, there are no more friends, only interests.
