Dovizioso slams Pedrosa man Puig

Eurosport - Mon, 10 Nov 15:58:00 2008

Andrea Dovizioso has said that new Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa is held back on the track by his controversial manager Alberto Puig.

2008 Portuguese GP Honda Alberto Puig - 0

Puig (pictured) - who recently also criticised Pedrosa's outgoing colleague Nicky Hayden - said that Dovizioso is simply "just another rival" to Pedrosa after his switch from the independent JiR Team Scot.

Dovizioso spoke out against Puig and said that he will establish a bond with Spaniard Pedrosa in time.

"Dani is a former 125cc and 250cc world champion and a great rider, but first of all he is a good guy, probably even shyer than I am," the Italian told the official MotoGP website.

"Maybe this is the reason why we do not have a great feeling between us yet, but we will have a lot of time to get to know each other.

"I think that right now he is not reaching his level on the road - maybe because of his manager."

Dovizioso's move to the factory-supported team is one of the most interesting of the off-season, given American Hayden's fractured relationship with Pedrosa which saw them put up a barrier in the garage.

Puig said that 2006 world champion Hayden was incapable of setting up a bike alone and often copied Pedrosa's settings.

Pedrosa finished the 2008 MotoGP season third behind Valentino Rossi of Fiat Yamaha and Ducati's Casey Stoner, while rookie Dovizioso was only fifth on his third-party bike - albeit 75 points behind Pedrosa.

Dovizioso added that his goal for 2009 is to beat Pedrosa.

"To finish ahead of Dani would be important, and I am confident about my chances," he said.

"But I will be mainly focused on stepping on the podium any time I can and being consistent with my new Honda HRC throughout the season."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. pdmcosworth, further to that Honda treat it's riders like the weak link of the bike, Rossi left them because when he won a race Honda said it was the bike that won it but if he lost a race they blamed Rossi for losing!!!!

    From GEORGE, on Fri 14 Nov 9:04AM

  2. Won't it be funny to see two ex Honda riders ( Haydon and Rossi ) beating the factory honda's next year . Honda doesn't know how to treat its rider's , it just thinks of them as another part of the bike , like a swingarm or fairing . This is the reason it's allowed People like Puig to worm his way into the team and also lost it previos two motogp world champions to rivil teams .

    From pdmcosworth, on Fri 14 Nov 7:28AM

  3. Like Dani, Dovi has gotten Honda backing for almost his whole career, wonder who Honda will back? I think Pedrosa as Repsol is Spanish

    From arshad_iceman2, on Thu 13 Nov 12:46PM

  4. The only current rider in MotoGP who is better at bike development than Hayden is Rossi. Pedrosa often corrected his settings this season by copying Hayden and Dovi's set-ups. Hayden has been doing the test riding for the team all season so he knows all the set-ups back to front

    From arshad_iceman2, on Thu 13 Nov 12:44PM

  5. Poooooge is a jerk. The man's usefulness in the business has run its course. I'll bet that Dani wakes up during the next season as soon as he sees that his results are being held back by his manager's lack of team spirit. Nicky and Casey will operate as a team and I'd bet that they'll be giving Vale h&ll next season. Poooooooooooge can honk the bo bo.
    BTW- The 212 wasn't built with Nicky in mind. Yet, he was able to race the thing. Development is something of a specialty. Vale, Colin, Nicky, Bayliss, Haga, Hodgeson, Corser, Hacking, and Yates are great at it. Everyone else is second rate.

    From A C E SPECIALTY, on Tue 11 Nov 6:53PM

  6. i have to say quote of the year

    "Dani is a former 125cc and 250cc world champion and a great rider"

    Dovi has hit the nail on the head, this will always be Dani's problem he is a great rider, but he can't race with the big boys and mix it up, every time he gets the chance he lasts 2 or 3 laps and falls of the pace.

    From bungle_2k, on Tue 11 Nov 1:52PM

  7. wolfy, Dani has access to all the Honda riders settings but no one get access to his settings at all. He and Puig deserve each other.

    From GEORGE, on Tue 11 Nov 10:18AM

  8. Strangely enough as a second counter to that argument Nicky's performance improved and Dani's deteriorated when the garage was split so the evidence seems to suggest that the information flowed the other way

    From hotrijder7, on Tue 11 Nov 10:04AM

  9. PUIG treats DANI like a kid because most kids are bigger,

    From hotrijder7, on Tue 11 Nov 10:00AM

  10. Mr Puig you are no gentleman, you are acomplete arse!

    From hotrijder7, on Tue 11 Nov 9:59AM

  11. Hayden copied Dani's settings because he could not set up his self? What a load of bull!!! Nicky hayden is the one responsible for all the set up and development for the mighty RC211v and is still regarded as the best current MGP rider for development. You dont get that reputation if you cant set up a bike.

    Strangely enough as a second counter to that argument Nicky's performance improved and Dani's deteriorated when the garage was split so the evidence seems to suggest that the information flowed the other way

    From wolfy, on Tue 11 Nov 8:52AM

  12. Puig the king of head games!! REckons that Hayden copied Danny's settings, what a joke!! No one on the grid could ride with Danny's setting because no ones that small. I hope Dovi kicks his arse in every race.

    From GEORGE, on Tue 11 Nov 8:04AM

  13. thats what i like to see some nice infighting lol good job rossi left honda years ago could not see him putting with puig and while all the nice infighting is going on rossi will just scoot away with another title long live king rossi

    From sci, on Tue 11 Nov 7:56AM

  14. What has happened to the mission statement"honda races-honda wins"?

    From Roy M, on Tue 11 Nov 3:02AM

  15. Not content in giving Nicky a serve he is now concentrating on the new team mate. I think Dani is a wonderfully talented rider but he has to crawl out from under that control freak that he calls a mentor. Nicky is well rid of that situation, but I do hope Dovi has the strength of his convictions. Mr Puig you are no gentleman, you are acomplete arse!

    From jubes44, on Mon 10 Nov 11:40PM

  16. alberto, you have had to meny knocks on the head .jack in

    From arushton27@..., on Mon 10 Nov 9:57PM

  17. Make your point on the track dovi, i think your just the man to make dani honest and if puig don't like it, @#$% him, i want a stronger show for REPSOL HONDA in 2009, playing 2nd fiddle to rossi/stoner ain't an option anymore, and i for one am sick of it- REPSOL ROSS

    From REPSOL ROSS, on Mon 10 Nov 9:32PM

  18. Watch your back Dovi mate

    From Angry Briton, on Mon 10 Nov 6:58PM

  19. Watch your back Dovi mate .

    From Angry Briton, on Mon 10 Nov 6:57PM

  20. I complete agree with Andrea, last year I was lucky enough to stay in the same hotel as Danny and it was obviuos that Alberto treated him as a small kid. Danny get rid of him
    Steve

    From Steve, on Mon 10 Nov 5:01PM
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