MotoGP: Honda team principal discusses Marquez surprise, Pedrosa renewal
At the halfway stage of the 2014 MotoGP World Championship, things are going very well for the Repsol Honda team, as reflected in this 'season so far review' with Team Principal Livio Suppo.
With their young MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez winning every race so far this year and, with his teammate Dani Pedrosa regularly on the podium, Suppo and his fellow management team members can be satisfied with their performance.
On the winning run of Marquez, Suppo enthused, “He is doing an unbelievable job. The first race was the most surprising because he came from an injury, he did only three days of testing in the winter, compared with the other riders who did nine. So really nobody expected him to be able to win. I thought he could finish on the podium or close to the podium, but to win was another story and he did a great job. That gave him a big boost and a lot of self confidence.”
“After that, he hasn’t made any mistakes and he seems unbeatable. Sooner or later it will happen that someone will be stronger than him in some circumstance, but nevertheless we need to be happy with what he has done.”
Like Marquez, Pedrosa has been re-signed on a new contract to continue with the team for two more years and Suppo believes Pedrosa will only get stronger in the second half of 2014.
On Pedrosa’s form in the opening nine rounds, Suppo commented, “I think it has been influenced a lot by the problem with his arm, before and after the surgery. Since then he has been very consistent and fast. So I believe that between now and the end of the season he’ll give the fans some big satisfaction!”
Summarizing the picture as a whole for the Repsol Honda team, the Italian manager stated, “The more you win, the more you are happy and you find motivation. It’s much more difficult to keep motivation high when things are going badly. When things go the way they are going now for Marc, it’s quite easy for everybody to be motivated and to be at the top. I think for the rider it is even easier than for the team.”
“The atmosphere in the team is very good, also with Dani. They are very good teammates. That’s why we’ve also renewed with Dani, because he is also one of the top guys. On top of this he also has a good relationship with Marc and it is difficult to find two strong riders that can live together so well. So we are very proud and very happy.”
