Casey Stoner, the former Australian MotoGP rider, recently shared his opinion on the current situation between Honda and Marc Márquez. Stoner, who has first-hand working experience with Honda, was present at the Grand Prix held in Phillip Island. During the event, he had the opportunity to reunite with old acquaintances and assess the current scenario at Repsol Honda.
Repsol Honda, the Japanese factory team, is currently going through one of its toughest phases. The biggest question is who will take Marc Márquez’s place. Stoner expressed his surprise at Honda’s decision, stating to TNT Sports: ‘I am truly surprised that Honda has released Marc Márquez. They should have tried to keep him at all costs’.
Márquez’s departure represents a significant challenge for the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). Finding top talents to represent their official team will not be easy, especially with Márquez’s minimal losses. ‘Marc can now go to Gresini and test the waters with Ducati’, added Stoner, touching on the hottest topic in MotoGP currently.
Márquez’s departure is undoubtedly a huge setback for Honda but it is not the only problem as they will soon have to resolve several other pressing issues. With Márquez’s departure confirmed, Honda’s priority is to hire a new rider, and Stoner’s advice is straightforward: ‘Marc’s departure is a blow to Honda. Attracting new talents will be difficult, especially with the recent negative press. They need to hire a rider with the right mindset, someone ready to give their best with the equipment provided’.
Stoner believes that Honda should focus on recruiting a ‘young, fast, and hungry’ rider. He suggests looking at the talent pool in Moto2. ‘Everyone emphasizes maturity and experience, but often that comes at a cost. An experienced rider knows exactly what they want. On the other hand, a young and ambitious competitor is willing to give it their all. I think that’s the direction HRC should take. It’s not always about having a team leader; sometimes, what is needed is a passionate rider, even if they are not the most experienced’, concluded the Australian.
