On Track Off Road No.183

views from the ‘19 repsol honda launch
There is a clear parallel to MXGP
and the placement of Tony Cairoli
and Jeffrey Herlings in Red
Bull KTM. Although there is more
of an age gap the Austrians and
management still had to handle
the two biggest champions
in the sport. How the chemistry
could work between Marquez and
Lorenzo was a subject directed
at Tetsuhiro Kuwata. “I have no
doubt that we can manage both
riders and the team,” the Japanese
assured with a poker face.
“Both riders are very professional
riders and they know the expectations.
We will try to improve the
machine, the team, everything.
This is a challenge and Honda
likes a challenge so it is maybe
tough but this makes us stronger
than in the past.”
Mick Doohan rarely faced an
‘equal’ once his Honda carried
Repsol branding but Crivillé was
arguably his trickiest opponent.
“I think it is healthy to have a
strong teammate,” he opined.
“Somebody of the calibre of Marc
Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo are
not really too worried about their
teammate. Sure, they want to be
in front but they have to beat everybody.
I think if you start focussing
on any competitor then you
lose what the objective is, and
that’s to win… You need to work
on yourself [and] your team to get
a step ahead of competition.”
sure you stay on the front foot,”
he added. “It will be interesting.”
Marquez’s attempts to heal some
of the rift with Valentino Rossi
could indicate that he is a individual
that does not like confrontation
or ill-feeling. His long-established
tight posse inside Repsol
Honda has a ‘bigger brother’
vibe and it would be hard work
for Puig and HRC to have to deal
with the kind of atmosphere that
once saw Yamaha having to erect
a wall between Rossi and Lorenzo
(initially for tyre differences but
the divide then remained). Lorenzo
is famed for his perfectionism
and preference for a small inner
circle but is also no aggressor. He
is more distant than antagonistic.
This might just work. Unless
those Repsol fairings start to bear
a few scrapes. “[Marc’s] had five
world titles in six seasons so he’s
an amazing rider and I feel for
his competitors,” teases Doohan.
“Who is going to stop him? Lorenzo
is of the calibre to do that but
until we see them side-by-side –
and that’s one of the great things
about this year’s team – then
there will be no more excuses.”
Side-by-side indeed. The next
nineteen rounds in nine months
will divulge more.
“When the guy beside you has
access to the same machine and
equipment it means you have to
work a little bit harder to make