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MotoGP, Puig attacks Rossi: "His time is over"

The Honda team manager: "Marquez is number one. I saw a different Pedrosa, to be champion you need to do things that he didn't do"

MotoGP: Puig attacks Rossi: "His time is over"

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The bikes are parked up for the winter and so rather than the stopclock, team members are speaking up. In recent days Alberto Puig gave an interview to lavanguardia.com, looking back at the 2018 season as well as forward.

The Honda team manager also touched on the subject of Valentino Rossi, and he didn't exactly mince his words: “Valentino has been a great rider and has my full respect. But, everything has its time in life and he is now experiencing a difficult period and won't accept that his time is over – commented Puig – sometimes you have to stop and think. Whether you like it or not, Marc Marquez is now number one. He is not worried about the opinions of those who revolve around Vale – he added – in fact, in Rossi's behaviour, we've identified signs of weakness”.

He then goes on to talk about Dani Pedrosa, whose adventure with HRC has now come to an end: “Since being in Honda, I've seen a different Pedrosa, I left him when he was at the top in 2013 – he declared – I honestly don't know what he's done in recent years". The team manager doesn't stop there: “To be a MotoGP champion, he needed to do things that he didn't do. No one gifts you anything in life. There are other riders who wanted to win the title more than he tried to”.

While on the one hand, there's the past, on the other hand Puig is already looking to the future. There is great interest in the Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo pairing: “Honda has never assigned the roles of first and second rider, or put any obstacles in the way – highlights the team manager.

Marquez will need to look out for the Majorcan “In recent seasons Marc has never had any internal competition – said Puig – Lorenzo could be something of a shock for him. If he's quick that will be further stimulation for Marc to be even more competitive. If Jorge adapts to the Honda, he'll be quick and when he's quick he's very quick. I don't expect them to become brothers, many team managers try to prevent conflict between the riders but I think that's a mistake, as you never win by doing that”.  

Translated by Heather Watson
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