MotoGP in 2014 will see some interesting internal changes in several of the factory team garages.
Marc Marquez’ championship winning pit crew (Casey Stoner brought them with him when he switched from Ducati to Repsol Honda) will be replaced by Marquez’ former mechanics Javi Ortiz, Jordi Catellà and Hugo Bucher.
Valentino Rossi rather controversially ‘dumped’ his historic crewchief Jeremy Burgess after fourteen seasons for Silvano Galbusera, two of Jorge Lorenzo’s mechanics Valentino Negro and Walter Crippa will also be leaving the former World champion pit crew and now Dani Pedrosa’s long time mentor and manager Alberto Puig will have a new role in HRC, and will no longer be in the Spaniard’s garage every race weekend.
Honda has decided that Puig will be more useful in his role as talent scout and finding new riders, especially in the Asia Talent Cup – and considering that he has ‘discovered’ riders like Casey Stoner, Julian Simon, Chaz Davies Joan Lascorz, Leon Camier, Jordi Torres and David Salom, besides Pedrosa, speaks highly of the Spanish manager, even if many will believe that this switch has more to do with his long time protégé losing the championship to his rookie team mate.
Puig will continue to be Pedrosa’s personal manager, while Raùl Jara is expected to replace the Spanish manager on Pedrosa’s side of the garage.
Here’s HRC‘s press release on Puig‘s new role:New role for Alberto Puig in Honda Racing CorporationAlberto Puig, who has been working with HRC since 2006 as Dani Pedrosa’s advisor, will face a new challenge starting from 2014.
Alberto will undertake a new role as a supervisor for several of HRC‘s activities including the Asia Talent Cup and recruitment and management of young riders.
Due to his new role, Alberto won’t follow Dani during the race weekend where he’s been a common figure alongside the Spanish rider, who he has tracked since the very beginning of his career.
Apart from Alberto, Dani’s team will remain same as in 2013.
Shuhei Nakamoto: “We are very happy to increase Alberto‘s role in HRC and make use of his extensive knowledge in this World.
He is a valuable asset to Honda Racing and we must utilise him and benefit from his wealth of experience.
He is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock and I believe this will be good new challenge for him.
“Alberto Puig: “This is an exciting new challenge for me with HRC and i am very grateful for the opportunity.
Initially I will focus on the new Asian Cup but then as my role grows and I will assist with young riders and I will do my best to help HRC as much as possible.
Regarding Dani, I hope he can fulfil his dream, and looking back over these years I can only be proud of what is left behind with all the titles in the 125cc and 250cc class and all the MotoGP victories.
Dani Pedrosa: “After many years working together on track with Alberto, next season he will not be by my side in the garage.
He will be taking care of new projects and I feel that he has already given me so much that now it is time to change our relationship slightly.
Anyway, I know that Alberto will be there for me if I need something, and this is the most important thing”