https://www.lavanguardia.com/deport...puig-repsol-honda-motogp-marquez-lorenzo.html
Alberto Puig de la Rosa (Barcelona, 16 / I / 1967) is to sleep little. "Four or five hours a day." Not because the ballot that lies ahead will take away the dream: manage the rivalry , under the same roof, between the strongest pilots of the World Championship, the five-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez and the three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo . A challenge for the Repsol Honda boss , who signs with his eyes closed the double of his pilots in 2019. Before diving into the new course, Puig reviews with La Vanguardia what it means to lead Marquez, what is expected of Lorenzo, why Pedrosa did not triumph or what he thinks of Rossi.
First year of head of Repsol Honda and triplet (titles of pilot, equipment and constructor). Better premiere, impossible.
I do not look at it that way. My way of assessing it is that there is a pilot who is a phenomenon and who has won the title helped by a group of people who have not done things wrong. But if you do not have a driver like Marc, things are very complicated.
Márquez has made it easy ...
With Marc there is no problem because he is a very easy guy. He says things as he sees them. An easy, direct and transparent work dynamic.
He has known him since he came to the World Cup in 2008. After a year together, what surprised him?
That small Marc who was a real animal on the bike is nowadays, but now with more experience and maturity. Marc is an antidic, does not pretend to be who he is not. He has the humility and curiosity to listen: to learn and respect. When you get on the bike, it's a real killer, which is what it should be. It is a machine programmed to go full steam. And it puts more of everything than the rest. He learns to save situations-with his elbow, his knee-to accept risk more than others ... so I do not believe in luck. He tries to understand what to do in each moment, that is why he is the best.
Have you had to correct something?
You can not teach Marc anything at all. It allows you to give your point of view. And he listens to you. His intimate group watches him, films him, gives his opinion, I can give him mine ... but you do not teach him anything.
What would he lack to be a perfect pilot?
Perfection does not exist, but he is quite close. Perfection is being the best, and he is. How much more can be better? With his years, he still has room for growth.
How can it improve?
I have not seen such noble pilots recognizing when they make a mistake. That honors him and makes him evolve. Most never admit guilt. He, the other way around: assumes the error and learns from there. In life you only learn from error. Marc has internalized it.
It is opposite to Dani Pedrosa.
They have nothing to do with it.
Pedrosa has chosen to retire after 13 years in MotoGP without reigning. What have you lacked?
I do not know. I was with Dani until 2013; In recent years, I honestly do not know very well what he has done. This year I have worked with him and I have seen a different Dani than he remembered.
In which?
I'm not going to go into details ... Like, to be a MotoGP champion I would have had to take on some things that he has not done. In life nobody gives you anything. There have been others who have wanted to win the title more.
Could I have continued?
I think he still has more than enough to follow, because he has a lot of talent. With one hand, struggling a bit, is a pilot to be in the top 5. But I'm not interested much ...
Let's look to the future. In your hands you have a dream team or a team of insomnia, with two beasts like Márquez and Lorenzo?
Not a dream team or a team of insomnia. They are going to be two pilots with a lot of level, two champions, ambitious, that will coincide in the garage, because in the track they already did it.
Is something prescribed to take them through a good channel?
I have never worried about this. First, because I know Márquez and I know that, whatever his rival, he will go for him. That Lorenzo is on the team and has his own bike, I do not think it's a problem. And Lorenzo, if he has taken the risk and the challenge of coming to this team, says a lot about him, shows courage, and has the ambition to be at the highest level. Dream team? It's a team, overall, with almost the best drivers on the grid. When we saw the opportunity, we took advantage of it.
Acláreme: Who took the first step? Lorenzo or you?
Let's say it was a simultaneous thing. We meet. I said to myself: "You have to do this and now."
He never concealed his little sympathy for Lorenzo in the years of rivalry with Pedrosa. Has your concept changed about him?
Neither have we tried so much, but my reference to Lorenzo has changed over time, obviously. In 250cc, with Dani we were superior, but in MotoGP he took a clear step over Pedrosa, won three World Cups. At a professional level, respect is. Personally I do not know his life in depth, but the treatment we have had has been correct. You are no longer dealing with a 14-year-old child, but with an adult who has had many experiences, good and bad -because Jorge has suffered-, and with whom you can talk ... For the team it is interesting and can bring good things .
What sensation has Lorenzo given him in the short distance?
He is a very direct guy who tells you what he thinks. He is frank. This type of people is already good for me.
Do you think that in the first year you can fight for the title?
You will have to get used to the bike. The Honda is not an easy bike. It is particular. When you make it yours, you can go very fast. But do not take it and go alone. If you get used to it in a short period of time ... I do not know how to say it. We will do everything possible to adapt quickly.
He said that Lorenzo can do better to Marquez. How?
If Lorenzo adapts to the bike he will go fast. And when Lorenzo goes fast, he goes very fast. And that will make the level rise. In recent years, Marc has not had competition in the team; Dani never shadowed him. If he has a fast driver beside him, Márquez will find a way to go faster, which Jorge can be a shock to him.
Knowing both, do you feel that you will have to stop the bulls?
We are not here to stop them, but to run as much as possible. And Honda has never ruled roles of 1 and 2, nor has it placed obstacles.
But that the races finish ... They have the precedent of Aragon, in which they sparked.
In the races things happen, and if they happen, they are analyzed. I do not pretend or hope that these two are first cousins. Many team managers look for a non-conflict situation among their pilots. For me it is a mistake: they will never win anything.
Speaking of conflicts. What is your opinion about one of the most bitter: the Marquez-Rossi war?
Valentino has been a great pilot. You have all my respect. With the age that it has, it continues with the desire and the non-acceptance of not being able to win, and with talent to go fast. But he is having a hard time accepting that his moment has already passed. Sometimes, the ways you use to follow are not correct. At no time have I seen Marquez out of orbit doing bad deeds towards Rossi; they were always career incidents. I respect Rossi, but in life everything has its moment. And like it or not, Marc is number one. Sometimes one must stop and think. Márquez does not care at all about the current of opinion that they try to generate from the environment of Vale. On the contrary: we have felt his weakness in his actions.
