Puig brushes off Marquez distraction concerns
Honda MotoGP team boss Alberto Puig believes Marc Marquez “would worry much more” if younger brother Alex was making his premier-class debut with another team in 2020.
Reigning Moto2 champion Alex will step up to MotoGP with the works Repsol Honda outfit this season, after being selected to take the seat vacated by the now-retired Jorge Lorenzo.
Alex’s promotion has been seen as a step into the lion’s den, given the difficulties most Honda riders had with the RC213V last year and the dominance of his brother on the bike.
Some, including 500cc champion Wayne Rainey, have also theorised that Alex’s arrival to the team and potential struggles on the bike could have a destabilising effect on Marc.
But, speaking to Motorsport.com, Puig said he doesn’t see how Alex’s arrival can “negatively affect Marc”, and believes he would be more worried if Alex had joined another team for his maiden campaign.
“Marc would worry much more if his brother debuted in MotoGP with another team,” said Puig. “I don’t know how Alex’s arrival can negatively affect Marc. In fact, he is delighted.
“He is only going to care that the bike is going well. That is the only thing that affects him and he has in his head. He is a champion, and the day he has to go wheel to wheel with his brother, he will do it – end of story.”
Commenting on the task that lies ahead ahead of Alex, Puig added: “I think it is a big opportunity for him. You have to value him by the level of the category and where it ends.
“The results and the learning curve will dictate whether he has done well or not. Alex has to work, sacrifice and strive. Talent is not controlled, but the effort is.”
The younger Marquez spent four days on the Honda last November at the post-race Valencia test and the following week’s Jerez test.
Pre-season testing resumes at Sepang in Malaysia for three days from February 7, though Alex will be able to take advantage of a new rule allowing rookies to take part in the three-day shakedown from February 2.
Previous article
Marquez set for extra Sepang MotoGP test mileage
Next article
Retired Lorenzo to get MotoGP ‘Legend’ status
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Marc Marquez , Alex Marquez |
| Teams | Repsol Honda Team |
| Author | Oriol Puigdemont |
The impossible problem Honda faces with its 2021 MotoGP bike
Honda hasn’t enjoyed an easy start to the 2021 MotoGP campaign, despite gains last season which looked to have carried over into the pre-season. Now admitting it does have issues in serious need of resolving, it faces an almost impossible task in doing so.
How Jerez underlined MotoGP's speed problem
The brutal nature of a series of crashes at Jerez has reopened the debate about whether current MotoGP speeds are beyond the safety limits of the tracks. But even if riders are supportive of the move, getting the manufacturers to find a consensus on how speed reductions should be achieved may be altogether harder
How a Crutchlow helped Miller to Jerez MotoGP redemption
Jack Miller’s tough start to life as a factory Ducati MotoGP rider left him mentally battered and bruised, but a pep talk and positive reinforcement from a surprising source aided the Australian to show his full potential with victory at the Spanish Grand Prix
What does Marc Marquez have to do to get back to his best?
Following his resounding MotoGP return with a seventh place finish in Portugal, Marc Marquez now must work to rediscover his best form before turning his attention towards results-based targets
How Yamaha's rookie-spec MotoGP star is taking charge
Fabio Quartararo is on a roll in 2021 after storming to victory at a venue five months earlier served up one of his worst races. Contrasting Portuguese GPs for Yamaha's factory duo make it hard to understand just how good its 2021 MotoGP bike is, but the Portimao weekend did at least expose one key improvement compared to 2020
The hurdles Marquez faces next in his Portugal MotoGP return
Even by Marc Marquez’s own high standards, his MotoGP comeback on Friday at the Portuguese Grand Prix will be considered a success even if he didn’t top the times. But having shown competitive pace on his first day back, both Marquez and his rivals know plenty more challenges are to come...
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
