A top rider signing for four consecutive years with a manufacturer was unheard of in MotoGP until then. We were instead going for two years, renewable under conditions. But there, the couple assumes a coexistence which, at this level of competition, is long-term. A thunderclap in principle, but also an uppercut given by Honda which has secured the services of Marc Márquez who is quite simply the best of his contemporaries. The competition is KO standing, a situation that Alberto Puig, the man in the Repsol shirt, likes to highlight to make it more painful...
Marc Márquez therefore signed a four-year contract with the factory Honda to continue his prolific adventure in MotoGP that began in 2013 with the Japanese manufacturer. Only the 2015 title has escaped him since. And last year, he came close to having a perfect season, breaking the record for points scored in a campaign. Suffice it to say that he is the man to have in your ranks. Honda understood him well and did what was necessary to retain him.
A situation which has given rise to many comments, particularly from the best friends ofAlberto Puig who work for Ducati. After starting in 2011 with Casey Stoner, to sign drivers very early in the season with a view to the next one, Honda would he have once again innovated with this duration of 4 years? Paolo ciabatti denies the emergence of a new standard. But the Repsol Honda team principal sees things another way and revels in the frustration he feels from his competitors...
Alberto puig comments thus: “ when you have an idea in mind and you try to make it come true. Our idea was to do a four-year contract for Marc and we did it. Who thought this was going to happen? It was unthinkable. But it's done » rejoices the Spaniard. “ It remains to be seen what comes out of this for everyone. I'm delighted to have done what we did with Marc. It's done, and it's done well. »
Then he comes to the comments he heard. To better give change! “ The other builders weren't just surprised, they were destroyed, which is different. We gave them a big blow by retaining the best driver in the world for four years. Our rivals won't have it » exults Puig. “ Previously, contracts were for one year. The two-year-old fashion was then launched. Now we've done these four years. Who's to say this isn't going to be a trend now? We were the first to do it. We'll see if anyone else feels that much interest in doing it when they have someone as interesting as Marc. »
In short, when we have a caliber of type Marc Marquez, you don't have to be choosy about keeping it at home. Because, ultimately, only results count, regardless of the adversaries who will have to draw on their own resources rather than plundering those of others to ensure their success. Besides, where would Ducati if they had had the discernment to treat well Casey Stoner ?
