"He hasn’t informed us he won’t be staying" - Puig on Marquez exit rumours

Repsol Honda’s Team Manager addressed the Marc Marquez to Gresini Racing gossip ahead of MotoGP™ Practice in Misano

It’s been a topic that has been on everyone’s lips so far at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini: is Marc Marquez leaving Repsol Honda Team to join Gresini Racing MotoGP™ in 2024?

Marc Marquez fuelled the gossip by posting a cryptic video on social media that wrote, "Things are happening", and ahead of MotoGP™ Practice kicking off in Misano, motogp.com pitlane reporter Jack Appleyard spoke to Repsol Honda Team Manager, Alberto Puig, to get the latest from that side of the story.

“Well I can only talk to you or give you the information that I know and that we have, as you said we have a contract for 2024 with him and he never came to us, informing us that he won't be staying with us,” commented Puig.

“For us, it will go like the contract we have and this is what I can tell you because I didn’t have any communication from the rider or the rider’s manager.”

- Marc Marquez: They've put my name on all the bikes. Someone will get it right, won't they?

Asked if Honda have a plan in place in case Marquez does leave Honda at the end of 2023, Puig had this to say: “Not really because we are not... because of what I said. If you have riders on contract there is no meaning to think about other riders.

“To advance a problem before it’s there is not a very smart thing to do. Normally you try to fix a problem when you have the problem but at this moment we don’t have this information.”

But are Honda concerned that Marquez will leave amid all the talk surrounding his future? It’s something else Puig briefly touched upon on Friday afternoon.

“I have concerns that we are not performing and that our bike isn’t good. I have no concern because I received no information.”

It’s a huge story that will continue to rumble on until something official is announced. Will the eight-time World Champion stick or twist? Watch this space.

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