Alberto Puig hits out at the ‘hoax’ he’s read about Honda’s MotoGP rider plans

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Honda are the clear outlier in this year’s MotoGP rider market. They’re the only manufacturer with multiple assets out of contract.

Factory rider Luca Marini is in the final year of his deal, as is LCR veteran Johann Zarco. Rookie Somkiat Chantra only signed for an initial 12 months.

In theory, being out of sync is a disadvantage. Any targets elsewhere on the grid may not be available.

But Honda have a unique allure as the most successful manufacturer on the grid. They fell to the bottom of the pecking order last year but now appear to be at the beginning of a resurgence.

Alberto Puig insists Honda aren’t planning a move for Pedro Acosta – yet

Speaking to DAZN at the Spanish Grand Prix, HRC team boss Alberto Puig firmly shot down rumours about Pedro Acosta. Links with the Spaniard have intensified in recent weeks.

Indeed, a report this week claimed Acosta’s manager had met with Puig at the previous round in Qatar. The 21-year-old’s contract runs until the end of next year, but that may not be a disqualifier.

Acosta can be bought out of his contract for £4.3m, a figure that a company like Honda could potentially afford. But Puig is adamant that they won’t pursue him, or any other ‘top rider’, until they have a ‘top bike’.

He went as far as to label the speculation a ‘hoax’, even if he admitted that Honda are monitoring their pool of options.

Puig said: “At this moment, I would be lying to you if I told you that we are… All that has been said is a hoax. You cannot control what people say. The only thing you can control is what you do and say. So, that is not the case. When we have a top bike, Honda will have a top rider.

“We’re always paying attention. We always have to look at what’s going on. But we’re focusing more on our bike than on the riders.”

Honda’s MotoGP rivals could have free run at Pedro Acosta after Alberto Puig comments

If Puig is being honest, it’s good news for Valentino Rossi. MotoGP legend Rossi has held talks with Acosta over a potential move to VR46.

As the table above shows, Franco Morbidelli is out of contract at the end of the year. Morbidelli has a close relationship with Rossi and has performed well this year, but Acosta appears to have superstar potential.

Marc Marquez says every MotoGP rider wants to race for a factory team, and Acosta may feel some unease about returning to a satellite squad after a promotion from Tech3 to KTM.

However, this would be an opportunity to ride a Ducati – still by far and away the best bike on the grid. Acosta insists he doesn’t care about money, which suggests he’s more interested in results than status.