The Repsol Honda Team Manager analyses the opening Grand Prix of the season, which saw Marc Márquez place second and Jorge Lorenzo debut for the team
The 2019 MotoGP World Championship got underway this past weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix. The traditional night race opener provided an exciting spectacle right up to the final corner, and was decided by just 23 thousandths of a second.
Alberto Puig started off his second season in charge of Repsol Honda, and after each race this year he will offer his thoughts on what occurs on track
What was the strategy for the Qatar race?
“The strategy was that Marc stays with the front riders from the beginning. It looks like he felt good, he was fighting for the victory. We saw he tried and it’s very positive for the future. Jorge was still a bit damage after crashing twice yesterday and his strategy was to take the maximum points possible.”
Positive points and negative points after race?
“It’s been a positive start of the season. First of all, we have improved this year’s bike, it was the first goal before the beginning of the championship. Marc starting second is a great result after his different winter. Unfortunately Jorge had a big crash on Saturday and today has struggled a lot. We hope he recovers soon because also his winter time without testing in Sepang after his surgery has been complicated.”
The view from pit wall during race?
“It’s the first race of the year and you are always a bit nervous. We had some entertaining moments at the end between Marc and Dovi and I think everyone enjoyed this new battle between both.”
