Aleix Espargaro has commended outgoing Honda MotoGP team manager Alberto Puig, insisting Puig will remain a pivotal figure at HRC despite stepping into a senior advisory role from 2027. Honda confirmed Puig’s new position ahead of the Catalunya Grand Prix, marking a significant leadership transition after his six-year tenure as team manager.
“Alberto has been amazing [as team manager],” said Espargaro, now an HRC test rider following his MotoGP retirement. “He’s a guy who has always been at the rider’s side. He’s part of HRC, but always super close to the riders, defending them. I know about the HRC news, but Alberto will be here anyway next year. He will remain an important guy inside of the team. Maybe from a different perspective, but Alberto will remain here.”
Puig, who took over from Livio Suppo in 2018 and guided Marc Marquez to his last two titles with Honda, is the only senior manager to have survived the post-Marquez restructuring. His successor as team manager has yet to be announced, but Davide Brivio—expected to leave Trackhouse Racing—has been heavily linked with a senior HRC role from 2027.
Honda is also set for a fresh start on track, with Fabio Quartararo and rookie David Alonso expected to make up an all-new rider line-up in 2027. As the team prepares for change, Espargaro’s remarks underscore Puig’s enduring value and influence within HRC, even as his role evolves.
