Honda is evolving favourably and steadily, says Alberto Puig, who was pleased to see the growth at the Sepang tests. However, there is one specific problem that remains to be solved, and he is counting on Johann Zarco to make the team even better.
The Team Manager of Joan Mir and Luca Marini’s team began by talking about the team and how it has grown, without forgetting one aspect where there is room for improvement: ‘We realise that we have improved, our power is better and the bike is lighter, the connection with the engine has improved. The steps we’ve taken are positive and we know where we have to improve because in the long race we’re better than in the time attack and that’s where we probably have to work more and that’s probably where we’ll have to work for the next test, it’s the target but, in terms of performance, the bike is faster and we have to try to make it more stable during the race’.
He then spoke about LCR Honda and how an effort is being made to make the two teams closer than ever: ‘We’ve always worked together with LCR and probably this year the connection is greater. There are more people, we’ve put in more resources and we have to try and get the best out of the concessions as much as we can’.
He also had a few words to say about Zarco, who he believes will be a key part of the team’s growth: ‘We’ll have an experienced rider like Johann in the other garage and it’s good to give him some support, which isn’t very easy, to have all the equipment for all the riders at the same time, but Honda and HRC are making a big effort to do that and we’ll see what the benefit of it all is’.