Age is something which can’t be ignored, and according to Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig, it has played a pivotal role in deciding who will partner Marc Marquez from 2023. The factory seat is one of two available at the Japanese marque, following confirmation that Pol Espargaro will bring his two-year stint with the side to an end after the Valencia GP.
In Austria, the number 44 was confirmed to have signed up for KTM’s latest MotoGP™ venture with Tech3 and GAGAS. It was a move that was widely expected, and it means that Honda are officially on the market for a new rider. The favourite to take over is 2020 World Champion Joan Mir, who has been with Suzuki for four years, but the Hamamatsu factory’s withdrawal from the competition means he is on the lookout for a new challenge in 2023.
It seems the stars are aligned for the move, and speaking at the Red Bull Ring, Puig opened up on why Honda chose not to renew Espargaro’s contract and instead opt for a fresh approach to next season after another underwhelming campaign.
"Pol has always wanted to renew with Honda, but this year we informed him that we were going to take longer to decide. Honda, because of the way they are, are looking a lot at trying to find riders who are a bit younger, because they want to develop the bike and they want to try to find a younger rider who can stay a bit longer in the team, but not a rider who is in the 30s," Puig told Jorge Lorenzo on Spanish broadcaster DAZN over the weekend.
"I totally agree that in terms of pure speed, I don't think there is much difference, honestly (between Espargaro and Mir). They are both very fast and Pol is a very brave rider, but I think that, in this case, the age issue has been quite a decisive factor in this decision."
As of yet, nothing has been confirmed by Honda as to who will take the other factory seat. It is clear, however, that they are hoping that some youthful exuberance and dynamism accompanied by a returning, and hopefully, fully fit, Marc Marquez will be the recipe for success they so desperately crave as they aim to once again reign in the premier class.