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MotoGP, Puig: "Espargaró will put pressure on the factory riders, like Pedrosa in KTM"

"The change of regulations in 2027? We cannot wait two years to be competitive again. Honda is investing all its resources, that's why Albesiano has arrived."

MotoGP: Puig:

If there is a character in the MotoGP paddock who more than any other is inside Honda's recent history that is Alberto Puig. The Catalan manager with a past as a rider has experienced in recent years in the Japanese box joys and sorrows, triumphs and disasters, always with the desire to progress. A desire even stronger today that the team is suffering and needed new grafts to recover starting with technical director Albesiano.

"The only strategy we've set for ourselves right now is to improve the bike, and to achieve this Honda is allocating all the resources at its disposal and its technology, not just financial but also human resources. That's why we decided to hire Romano. We are doing everything we can day by day because we are aware that our level is not what it should be," he told Motorsport.com.

Making a comparison with F1 where the Japanese manufacturer is reaping success as engine supplier for Red Bull, the Spanish manager was keen to point out, "A car and a motorcycle are not the same thing and in our case Honda takes care of the entire motorcycle. Both teams are under the HRC umbrella so we are still trying to take advantage of the resources that F1 can offer us. We are evaluating possibilities of a headquarters in Europe, although for now we don't have anything finalized. Europeans have taken a step forward in all areas of the bike, but Japanese brands probably suffered more from Covid, because the technicians couldn't travel to Japan," he reasoned.

Among the new additions for 2025 will be Aleix Espargaro in the role of test rider. "He's a guy with a lot of experience and he's been very clear about his comments on the bike. He comes from a great brand, a rider like that can't bring anything negative, he'll only bring ideas. Also, in the last race of the season at Montmelo he was fighting for the podium, and to properly test the parts you have to be fast and be capable of reaching the limit. It's very important that this will push the other Honda riders, we saw it with Dani Pedrosa when he arrived as test rider at KTM. In the medium and long term it is positive."

Inevitable among the topics addressed was that relating to all the devices that now make up the racing prototypes. "Some things have been good, otehrs not so much. There have been many improvements in matters relating to safety. Years ago traction control was in your hand, and if you overdid it a little, you would go over the top. We can't get to the point where the bike is more important than the rider. I'm sure the championship and the manufacturers will find the necessary compromise," he said before casting his eyes to 2027 to when the new regulations come into effect and the gap between the leaders and pursuers could grow. "Brands will always find a way to make bikes go faster and faster, but Honda can't wait until 2027 to take a step," he concluded with conviction.

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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