For several years, former rider Alberto Puig was the personal manager of Dani Pedrosa, who he brought up from the 250cc class to MotoGP at the end of 3, opening the doors to the official Honda team for which Dani now begins his career. thirteenth consecutive season.
But tensions arose between the two men, Puig's character not being the most cheerful. They therefore parted on bad terms and Pedrosa, after pushing Alberto out, did business with another manager. Many were therefore surprised to learn this winter that after the departure of Livio Suppo, pushed out by Honda, it was Puig who took his place as team manager, therefore as Pedrosa's superior. For some, Puig is only there to try to keep Marc Marquez at all costs at Honda in 2019, Pedrosa being only a consequence of the situation. Imagine his face when he learned of Puig's arrival!
For the moment, Pedro is looking good: “ We talked and so far everything is very positive, he said. He is a person who has a lot of experience, who has been a trusted driver, and who will contribute a lot to the team. When there are years of contract renewals, the proposals are always appreciated and in the past I have always been in this team, but it is too early now to conclude. »
“If you want to renew and continue with the best teams, you have to be fast. The team has to be good to me and I have to be good to the team. There must be good harmony but the results must also be present. The most important thing is to continue working during testing until the first race. »
Is the RC213V model 2018 a future victorious machine?
“It's difficult to venture much because we've only tried it in Malaysia, which is a track that usually has a few faults due to the heat, but the engine has more power and more response down low and that allows us to have a little more margin. »
“Over the last two years we have suffered from power in general. By having something more in terms of power, we believe that on circuits that have straight lines we will have more margin. »
“At Sepang we tried a new fairing and it was quite positive, but the bike is still not 100% precise and we need to test it on other tracks. Aerodynamics is a new world and there is not so much experience, the bike corners and constantly changes direction, lean and height at the front. You have to find the right compromise. »
“If we look at the test times in Malaysia, there are fifteen drivers in the same second, in 1'59, and doing 1'59 in Malaysia is very difficult. Lorenzo went very fast and will certainly be much stronger than last year, but Marc is the favorite, without forgetting the usual ones, which are Red, Maverick, who is very strong and Dovizioso, who has a lot of chance to fight for the Championship. »
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Photos © Honda Racing, Repsol Media
Source: motorcycling.es
