Puig: five comments from the Spanish MotoGP™ Podcast

Repsol Honda Team Manager addresses the current situation inside the factory HRC box, especially that of Jorge Lorenzo

Speaking as one of the guests on the second edition of the Spanish MotoGP™ Podcast, Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig analysed the current situation inside the factory HRC box.

Puig touches on Marc Marquez’ but, especially, the Spaniard breaks down the problems that have faced Jorge Lorenzo this season, and what the future holds. Below are the top five comments from Puig’s time with the Spanish MotoGP™ Podcast:

- “The truth is that there’s now there are zero expectations, we can’t kid ourselves,” says Puig, talking about Lorenzo. “If I do a quick review, he came in and started crashing and hasn’t stopped crashing since. He’s never been comfortable on this bike.”

- On Lorenzo's 'reset': “For Jorge, it’s ‘a new start’. ‘A new start’ if he wants, if he has the desire and the motivation. A ‘new start’, not on the bike, but taking risks and thinking ‘hey, in this line of work you can get hurt, and that’s part of the game’.”

- The future: “It’s very important for us and also for him, to see how he feels and what his prospects are for 2020. Regarding Marc, he has the wind behind him and our intention is clear: we will try to keep him with us as long as possible. But, at the moment, the most - not worrying - but what needs to be looked at clearly is how Lorenzo is, if he feels motivated and if he can return to form.”

- On a potential resignation: “If that happened, and we don’t want it to happen, obviously, right here and now I would tell you no, we’re not ready because we’ve not thought about a replacement or anything, but I’d have to say if that were the case, we’d react.”

- On the Zarco “bitterness”: “I’m as bitter as you have to be in this world of racing: neither too much nor too little, but you can’t be an idiot either. We offered him the bike and he said no. After it all, the day came that he apologised. I think he fired his manager because he didn’t tell him anything and, let’s say, he was a gentleman and everything is really clear between us.”

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