<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kropotkin @ Apr 3 2010, 12:02 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Without Puig, there is no MotoGP. He brings on the talent through the Red Bull Rookies, he is heavily involved in 125s, 250s (now Moto2), the Spanish Championship. He brings much needed millions in to the sport. Without him, MotoGP would be a second-rate circus wishing it could be more like WSBK.
Naturally, he wants his own riders to win, and will do whatever he can to make sure that happens. In MotoGP, he has singly failed to achieve this, mostly because he has stuck by Dani Pedrosa, who is simply not good enough, and Honda, who have been lost since Rossi and Burgess left, as those two (and Doohan before Rossi) kept HRC straight, and told them to do the right thing.
No doubt Puig has an unpleasant side to his personality, and can say some pretty stupid things. But MotoGP - and race fans like you, even those who hate him - need Puig and people like Puig to keep the series going.
Agree and disagree.
Yes the series needs people like Puig to sustain it, and as a vital conduct between Moto GP and the Spanish Series, he has singularly nurtured a great deal of talent in addition to his continued stewardship over the Red Bull Rookies. I agree, as would the likes of Bradley Smith - or even contentiously Casey Stoner, who could conceivably be languishing in BSB on some uncompetitive private effort were it not for the fact that Dorna charged Puig with the task of scouting talent within the UK. Granted, an extreme scenario, but it illustrates the point.
In spite of this, there are some very competent personnel within the paddock, and a wealth of personalities within the sport who could have adequately fulfilled the role of Puig, and doubtless surpassed his achievements. As far as developing the rookies is concerned, one could anticipate an ex rider of far greater standing and reputation as Sito Pons in such a mentoring role, and commanding ten times the respect that Puig has. The indicting feedback that I have read from many of Alberto's ex acolytes speaks volumes, as does the general way that he is regarded by his pundits plaudits and peers. Unlike Pons, there appears to be very little respect for the man.
Yes he has put all his faith in Dani Pedrosa, who appears to not fulfilled his expectations, but on the flip side, far from furthering it Dani's career, since his graduation to MotoGP Alberto Puig has irrevocably damaged it together with the dynamic within that garage. Much like Davide Retardozzi, Puig has placed his individual vested interests above the interests of the team itself.
Dani was not the chosen one, Daijiro was the great white hope. Pedrosa has one season to redeem himself, before HRC finally call time on the double act. I would contend that their patience with Alberto is already exhausted.
This conflict of interests is not at the expense of the team dynamic at Repsol Honda, but his very capacity at HRC has tainted and influenced the politics of rookie recruitment/development and the streaming of riders into the sport for over a decade. Surely you as a journalist Krop would appreciate that in this particular role the incumbent should be without affiliation?
Regarding the question of attracting money into the series, KRsnr's ideas on sponsorship and external revenue have been ignored and dismissed by Dorna for years. it strikes me that Puig's reputation was built on a dodgy 'Telefonica connection' and he was simply given a spare Repsol shirt in his size. Money man?
look no further that the likes of Suppo - that's what he does. It is no coincidence that HRC themselves did exactly that, which is why it might not be long until they show both Pedro and Puig the garage door.
