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Carlo Pernat is genuinely surprised, and even a bit disappointed when we told him that the separation between Marquez and Honda is official.
As a manager, Carletto was always opposed to this move and, seeing it from his point of view, rightly so. In fact, the certainty of having signed contracts at hand no longer exists in this manner. But did it ever? We’ve also recently seen this in the MotoGP with the termination of the contract between Zarco and KTM in 2019, when he joined Honda LCR but then signed with Ducati at the end of the year. So where’s the difference?
“We’re in October with a constructor that has never said anything to the rider who, instead, continued to talk about a separation,” Pernat began to explain and added: “A constructor like Honda kept in check until October, leaves me perplexed. We’re talking about the largest constructor that is kept in check until the end of October without having contracted its top rider. I managed companies like Aprilia and, if I were in a similar situation, forget about a consensual agreement. I would’ve charged the rider a big penalty.”
But we don’t know if they did that or not, actually. Marc could’ve also considered an onerous economic agreement convenient, in order to ride a competitive bike like the Ducati in 2024.
“Of course, but Marquez didn’t make a good impression,” Pernat continued, “Especially since he was regularly paid these years, despite having practically not raced. Obviously, Marquez’s doctors were also partly to blame for the misdiagnosis.”
But Honda management let him return to Jerez a week after he fractured his humerus. Remember how, at the time of Livio Suppo, Jack Miller’s return was stopped.
“This remains the weakness of the largest motorcycle company in the world, compared to the best rider. The constructor has the right and duty to protect itself. Marquez naturally feels he’s the best and has the right to look for the best solutions. However, if what they say is true, that the contract will only be for one year, that’s ridiculous ...”
In the end, who’s to blame for this separation, which was a long good-bye that practically began after Marc’s repetitive falls in the German GP at the Sachsenring when, for the first time, he confessed that he no longer felt like risking that much riding a non-competitive vehicle?
“Management, in Japan, is probably to blame,” Carlo Pernat added. “But, now, I want to see the consequences. I understand that Dall’Igna feels gratified. Of course he would. The best rider in the world, who wants to ride your bike! But there will be consequences.”
He then jokes: “I’d be less surprised if, instead of the Gresini team, Marc went to KTM with Acosta. They could give up Miller and Fernandez!”
And between one statement and another, Carlo repeats: “This is no longer my MotoGP, the motorcycling I used to know.” We didn’t remind him of his affirmation: “If Marquez really leaves Honda, I’m retiring!”
In fact, we’ll ask him this evening in our LIVE streaming at 6:00 pm on our social media channels: Facebook, Youtube. and Twitter (X). Don’t miss it!
