There are bonds that are not broken when the two parties separate and this is precisely the case of Marc Marquez and Honda. Having left the Japanese manufacturer at the end of last year, to try to regain confidence and competitiveness with the Ducati of the Gresini team, has not in fact undermined the relationship between the eight-time Spanish champion and his old team.
So much so that Marquez revealed in a press conference that he went to the HRC box to tell the guys from his old group that they too were part of the victory achieved in Aragon. A feeling probably shared by team manager Alberto Puig, who knows better than anyone what Honda has done for Marc.
“When we discovered that Marc was thinking of leaving our team, of leaving Honda, we suffered in our souls, but we understood that we had to make things easier for him, because he had given us everything and he didn’t feel comfortable,” Puig explained to El Periodico in Misano.
Aware of what Marc needed, the former rider and Honda did their utmost to put him in a position to win again. Even going against their interests.
“Marc wanted to test himself, he wanted to know if, with a good bike, he could still be competitive. Not only did I understand it, but we also helped him, because I thought he was always very honest. I knew that as soon as Marc got on a winning and competitive bike, even the 2023 Ducati, he would win again. I never doubted it,” admitted Puig, happy to see his compatriot break his long fast last Sunday at MotorLand Aragon.
“I was very happy with Marc’s victory and I expected it,” he confessed. “I’ll tell you more: I expected him to win before, but I was very surprised by the difference between this year’s Ducati and the 2023 one. I think this important difference prevented Marc from winning races in the first third of the season. Also, both Pecco and Jorge and even Enea are riding wonderfully and they are three great riders.”
Beating his opponents with an older bike gives even more credit to the feat accomplished by the Catalan champion.
“Marc’s merit in winning at Aragon is immense,” acknowledged Alberto, who never doubted the talent and ability of the eldest of the Marquez brothers: “I know better than anyone who Marc Marquez is, that he is a rider with enormous ability. I know that after the terrible accident in Jerez many doubted him. And I understand that, but I never doubted that he would win again, never! Marc returned to being Marc, he won again, not because of his talent, not because of Ducati, not because of his new team: Marc won again because he had very clear ideas. When you are obsessed with a goal, when you have clear ideas like Marc and you are determined like him, it is impossible for what you pursue not to happen. Especially when it comes to a phenomenon like Marc.”
