Honda's Grand Prix statistics have been declining dangerously for several Grands Prix already, but they completely collapsed in Germany. It will be recalled that, for the first time in 40 years in this high competition, none of the brand's drivers was able to bring home the slightest point at the finish. Worse, the criticism from pilots is becoming increasingly harsh on the RC213V. They are still the only ones to regularly suffer very violent falls. On the Sachsenring, the motorcycle not only threw its riders off-guard, it also burned them. Honda is experiencing the worst moment in its Grand Prix history and we will later remember that it was Alberto Puig who was in office at the time. The latter responds, and that worries us for the future since his only solution is to bring back Marc Marquez as quickly as possible…
Push Marc Marquez in his last entrenchments, letting him come back too quickly and still thinking only of his return during his periods of convalescence multiplied by his relapses, it is a posture which characterizes Alberto Puig in his way of assuming his functions as team manager of Repsol Honda. And even now, when this policy ended up bringing the eight-time World Champion for the fourth time to the operating table, the idea is to bring him back. When he flew to the United States for this surgery that the illustrious patient himself identified as that of the last chance, the speech was benevolent among Honda by ensuring that we finally had to give time time. But after the Sachsenring, there is urgency…
Honda is on the ropes. His bike isn't just underperforming. It continues to be a danger for its pilots and this has been going on since 2020. The new opus of the RC213V has not solved anything. At the Sachsenring, Pol Espargaro et Stefan Bradl, exhausted, twisted by pain, and even with burns on their hands and feet looked like war wounded. The German, anonymous in front of his audience, was so exhausted and frustrated that he blurted out: “ Honda was unable to develop a fairing that would allow riders to survive in this heat. The message must reach them, It's not acceptable, it can't be like that. I've had other tough and hot races, but I don't even know how I managed to finish this one. After following the group through the first few turns, I couldn't brake because the lever in my right hand was getting very hot and I couldn't control the bike, I burned my fingers there. With so many curves on the left, the right hand barely gets any air, and that makes everything even more complicated After ten rounds, my right foot is burned. The Honda is impossible to drive in these temperature conditions ».
For Alberto Puig the return of Marc Marquez to the Honda before the end of the year “ would be particularly important«
This is how the brand's test driver spoke about the work of his employer, which is the world's leading manufacturer. In this storm, how did you react Alberto puig ? He is annoyed, but he remains certain: “ it is clear that it was not a good weekend, and we need to analyze it as quickly as possible to know how to get out of this situation ", he said. And when it was pointed out to him that he was coming up empty-handed on points for the first time in 40 years, he responded curtly: “ I don't know the statistics. I just know that we are not in the right situation at the moment and that we need to completely change it. We've done it several times in the past, we're Honda! ". A last sentence already heard, and even from the mouth of Marc Marquez, but which has had no effect so far on the level of the RC213V.
Alberto puig knows that Assen is already on the program this weekend and that he is going to the front with troops MotoGP ragged : " we must check the conditions of our drivers. We need to know how Pol and Nakagami are doing physically. Alex Márquez and Stefan Bradl are doing well ". And what is the solution next? There is none. Alberto puig and therefore Honda does not deviate from the pattern of the return of the providential man Marc Marquez : " he'll probably show up soon, to see what's going on, to understand how we're trying to improve the bike » says Puig who finishes: “ I heard him the day before the operation and he told me that his goal is to absolutely return before the end of the year to develop the 2023 bike. He knows the features of the RC-V well and this would be particularly important ". The cry for help is not even feigned.
