Marc Marquez achieved the sixth crown in the premier class in 2019 with 12 wins and a record of 420 points, while almost single-handedly leading Honda to the crowns of the manufacturer and the teams.
However, only Marquez won on the RC213V, which was consistently criticized by its drivers as being more difficult than its predecessor. LCR’s Cal Crutchlow only got three podiums and Jorge Lorenzo never finished in the top 10.
Earlier this year, Honda boss Puig rejected comments by Ducati management that indicated that HRC had only built a bike for Marquez. Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti later claimed that Puig twisted his words to create controversy.
When Autosport asked at the end of the season in Valencia whether Honda had any plans to change the perception that only Marquez can drive their bikes, Puig said: “First of all, I think this is not a fact, just an idea.
“The fact is, I think in the past 18 years Honda has won the title ten times with four different drivers (Valentino Rossi in ’02, ’03; Nicky Hayden ’06; Casey Stoner ’11; Marquez ’13 -’14, ‘ 16-19).
“Yamaha [did so] with two (Rossi in ’04 -’05, ’08 -’09; Lorenzo ’10, ’12, ’15) and Ducati with one (Stoner in ’07).
“So with the facts we can say that the Honda is the easiest bike to ride because it has won the championship with a lot of riders.
“I don’t know what the other teams are saying, but we don’t know [worry] so much about it.
“The excellence of a team is not just about [about] the rider’s bike – it’s complete the whole structure.
“Every team has its own way and has to try to do its best.”
He added, “When we have this [championship-winning] Drivers, we have these drivers and the other teams can try to get them.
“I don’t think that’s a critical point.
“I’m just checking the history of the championship and Honda has won a lot of championships with different drivers.
“I can mention Rossi, Hayden, Marc, Casey. So I guess [the Honda being the toughest bike on the grid] is just an idea, not a fact. “
