I suppose this best belongs in this thread:
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2013/04/27/motor/1367057522.html
I'm a bit too lazy too interpret, but here is the gist. The title is: Even champs can be mistaken
Alberto Puig responds to comments made by Kevin Schwantz, who made some comments after the last round, in particular "In eight years Dani hasn't won anything." And another sticking point that Alberto takes issue with is a comment paraphrased 'Dani needs to be raised without somebody at his side.' which Puig says is an obvious reference to him.
Summarized, Puig basically expresses his disagreement reminded us that Dani has won 3 world titles to Schwantz's 1. Though he does admit a premiere class title is more important (and throws in a plug for himself saying he was himself a 500cc racer). He also lists all the other wins, poles, fast laps comparing Dani's career to Schwantz, making the case Pedrosa has been more impressive.
Puig also says Schwantz won his title because Wayne Rainey got hurt. And reminds Kevin that he also took 8 years to win this single title, and makes the point that Schwantz raced in the shadow of greater riders, first Eddie Lawson and then Wayne Rainey.
Puig rebuts Schwantz comments regarding Dani having a mentor [Puig] always at his side by reminding Schwantz that he had his parents with him during his racing, "like a child". He also mentions that Schwantz has had a racing school for many years and he has yet to produce a great rider, yet Puig has been responsible for many champions (he gives a list: Stoner, Marquez, Elias, Baustist, Simon). He finishes up by remembering the time he gained respect for Kevin, at a race where they both fought for a podium, where he admits his Honda was clearly faster than Schwantz's Suzuki. With a few laps to go, he passed Kevin on the straight, then Kevin retook him on the brakes, which he said he screamed in his helmet "holy ...., what a good chap, how can he brake so late!". When he stood on the podium next to Schwantz he says he was proud and from then on respected Kevin, then he adds, as of today that respect has now disappeared.
EDIT: I went back to at least google translate for others who may be just as lazy. (Sorry, but I didn't go back to clean up the sentence structure or nuanced meanings. Maybe somebody who speaks more proper "Spaniard" Spanish can do so.)
Even Champions are Wrong
by Alberto Puig
In response to the statements made by Mr. Kevin Schwantz during the Grand Prix of the Americas with reference to Dani Pedrosa, I just give my opinion on the matter, and that refers to me. From the sporting point of view, I will limit myself solely to statistics and the archive, so we are talking about 100% objective facts, not opinions or thoughts of someone who was here years ago.
Mr. Schwantz said literally that "eight years Pedrosa had not won anything." Well, let's analyze it. For starters, keep in mind that Dani has, so far, three world titles (one in 125cc and two in 250cc) by one of Schwantz on 500cc. I have no doubt, because I have been pilot 500cc from 500cc title that is much more important, true, but what you can do is not detracting from those three titles achieved by Dani. By Dani and all pilots throughout World Cup history have earned degrees in these categories. All were, sure, some great champions, regardless of displacement in which they succeeded. And we all deserve respect.
To cite some data, we could say that Pedrosa has a total of 45 Grand Prix victories, while the Texan 25 (almost double). Of those 45 victories Dani, 22 have been in the top class. Add also that Pedrosa is credited with 113 podiums in MotoGP -72 Schwantz 51, and 55 fastest laps (35 of those 55 in MotoGP)-by 26 Schwantz. If we refer to the data-clearly favors Pedrosa say that Dani won nothing in eight years is typical of someone who does not know what he says and especially, it is very disrespectful.
But still, Mr. Schwantz, I'll give you a point, Dani has not earned the title of titles, right. But it is, and is in spite of the many adversities they found in his career, and I mean injuries. I remind you that you packed up and left for home because I had a very bad wrist. For this pilot is bad most of the body and is giving the gas.
Mr. Schwantz, Dani has not won this title yet, but let me tell you something that is not going to like it, and I'm going to say for his arrogance and that is how it happened. You do have that title (it took eight years to do so since his first race in 86), but he won only because Wayne Rainey crashed at Misano and had to stop competing that year. If not, you do not win that title. Were you a great driver, super spectacular too, but by referring to the results, it was always in the shade, first of Eddie Lawson, and then permanently to Rainey, steadily. So do not brag much of champion, which was just to that title.
On the issue that Dani said that no one would need to have grown up beside him shall cover me, remind you that in the era of the '80s and '90s, was curious to see how it operates, and that while most youth traveling through Europe and the world as we could, always with a friend or companion, you do not take a step without having their parents (both) at his side. It was unusual at that time working that way, was the darling image that needs the potatoes all day close. According to him referring to me, then, could be interpreted as not having his parents at his side, protecting him, had won more titles? Think you, Mr. Schwantz.
Apart from this, say that since I retired from competition I worked hard in promoting pilots, basically with Pedrosa, but I have also helped and directed at certain times in my career drivers like Casey Stoner, Toni Elias, Alvaro Bautista Marc Marquez and Julian Simon. And all of them, all have been world champions. You, Mr. Schwantz, has a flying school in Texas for years and helps kids with all this competition, to this day, no one driver has managed to not even qualify for Europe to come to run. Nothing at all. Or, in this field, zero success.
Mr. Schwantz, you just do not remember this episode, because it sure lived many like this-but I do not many, so I remember it clearly. In 1994 I was honored to share the podium with you and Michael Doohan in Hockenheim, at the fascinating and brutal circuit. Doohan, a few laps left, and I could fight you for second place. I clearly beat and he did it because you were so much better than me. But I remember that in that race my Honda was faster than the Suzuki, and I took advantage of his slipstream to pass on the long straights of the forest, until we reached the chicanes or the stadium and there, under braking, I was wrong. Missing a few laps to go I had a very strong under braking and at that moment I realized that was going to go alone and I could not follow him, I cursed in my helmet but at the same time I thought '.... that guy as good as can brake so late. "At the end, on the podium, where we welcome, I felt a great respect and admiration for you, for a man who had just taught me how to slow down to the limit with a racing bike.
I feel sadly say that after reading his statements, which are full of disrespect to a great champion like Pedrosa has been many men who achieved titles in intermediate categories that respect he was born that cold day in Hockenheim '94 has disappeared completely. Kevin, at the time won the 500cc title, but until the champions are wrong and should know right when the occasion requires.
I'm probably not the best guy to ask for unbiased comment. But I'll try my best. I hadn't read Kevin Schwantz's comments originally or what was the context, rather if he just volunteered the comment or if they were leading questions, etc. but Mr. Puig does make somewhat of an attempt at rebutting these comments, but overall they are a false comparison and was not consistent with his own stated premise. If I were in Mr. Puig's position, I would have done the same thing, that is, respond to comments that sting and question Dani's status on perhaps the most coveted seat in the sport! Nothing hurts more than when somebody talks negatively about a loved one, so its understandable to get a reaction, but knowing of Mr. Puig (of the little I know from the public account)
I would say this was more about arguing the case for Dani to remain at HRC. And I'll admit, he did a good job at doing so, even tugging at some emotional strings at the end with his personal anecdote. Dani is again in the position to get beat by a teammate to title (Hayden, Stoner, and now possibly Marquez) so it makes sense to argue his case (which is getting more difficult as time progresses); this IS the big elephant in the room regarding Dani's tenure at HRC.
The lower category titles are nothing more than a reasonable justification to be promoted to the
Premiere Class--that is, The Big Dance. Many Americans who later became champs of MotoGP never won 125/250s titles, and I find it rather pretentious to call them "world" titles, as much as AMA, BSB, WSS, WSBK titles are not recognized with the same prestige. Nevertheless, the discussion should have been limited to Dani's MotoGP stint, as Schwantz qualified his statement saying the last "8" years, "Dani hasn't won", its not hard to presume this referred to a title in the 'premiere class'. That is what KS clearly refers to and is not disparaging those lower category accomplishments (which Puig goes to some lengths in the article to accuse KS of belittling the men who have won such lower titles). I would remind Puig that Wayne Rainey said basically the same exact thing when asked about the Biaggi vs Rossi rivalry. He responded, there is "no rivalry" and added 'I haven't seen Biaggi win anything.' (see the movie Faster) As to the comparisons of Dani vs Schwantz career, Puig included all the lower category wins, by logic, I suppose he should have also include all the superbike and lower wins Kevin had (many against Rainey in the US actually). And while at it, maybe mention Schwantz's participation in the then TransAtlantic Matches, a rather noteworthy event despite crashes, but also his Daytona 200 win, back in the day when this actually meant something. If Puig was only interested in comparing Dani to Kevin in the premiere class, then it might be a good idea to mention HRC is the HRC of GP, while Suzuki was the Suzuki of GP, in todays terms, more like the DucatiGP project.
I have no problem with Pedro having a mentor by his side. I think its important and helpful. We all need people who love us around to encourage and guide us. Perhaps Schwantz wasn't quite referring to this aspect of mentorship, but rather the misguiding that has sometime accompanied Dani. I mentioned somewhere that Puig has fed Dani some lies at times to give him a 'hurry up', as recent as this race, where he gave Pedro a bogus lap count. Not to mention the bogus pit board he gave Dani which was followed by an epic crash (while leading no less) that resulted in a broken collar bone and an end to his title challenge (Germany I think). Puig makes a good point in comparing his and Schwantz contrast in mentoring riders into the world stage. Except, he forgot to mention that Puig has an office in said League! Not exactly apples to apples, when the apple vendor sells his apples to his cousin. Its not by coincidence that all his list except for Stoner were all Spanish, in a Spanish League. Speaking of Stoner, I would submit that Puig would have had zero lower category titles to speak of regarding Pedrosa, especially 250s, had he not
"helped" Stoner onto a inferior 2nd tier package to compete against his beloved Pedrosa when they raced against each other in 250s. Stoner has 2 (and should have been 3+) premiere titles in MotoGP (these are the ones that count), one can only imagine what that tally had been if in 2006, the more deserving of the former 250 riders had been given the HRC keys. Possibly no Nicky Hayden title (ouch for me), I shuttle at the thought of Stoner in 2006 with "the good tires" on a full factory RCV (which won races even under a satellite banner that year).
As to his point that Schwantz only won because Rainey was horribly injured, I would have to accept this as a fair assumption. Nonetheless,
Alberto Puig started this article (I didn't care to translate the whole thing)
with the statement "me limitare única y exclusivamente a las estadísticas y a la hemeroteca, así que estaremos hablando de datos objetivos 100%" Which translated says,<span style="font-size:14px; <span style="font-size:18px;"
I will limit myself solely and exclusively to statistics and the archives, this way we will talk 100% objectively about the data." He said this in his opening paragraph. Well then Mr. Puig, the only one of importance, given your own premise is as follows:
<u>MotoGP World Championships</u>
Kevin Schwantz........1
Dani Pedrosa ...........0
