MotoGP – Randy De Puniet and the advantages of being a… privateer!

Surprise, if you like, of the winter tests, a bit of trouble in the race at Losail, where he finished in 9th position after more than convincing qualifying with the 5th best time. Randy De Puniet experienced his first challenge with the LCR team in the "Night Race" of Qatar, a team that took him back after happy times together in 250cc. The transalpine rider, already missed by several prominent figures in Kawasaki, thus debuted for the first time in MotoGP in his new role, that is, as a "private" rider astride a still valid Honda RC212V with Michelin tyres. To Eurosport Randy recounted his first impressions of the season, clarifying the differences between an official driver and a "simple customer"...

“Finding yourself as a private pilot after having been an official one inevitably involves pros and cons”, says the multiple winner of two-and-a-half races. “It's true that you can't get your hands on the basics of the motorcycle, but on the other hand it's difficult to make the most of what you have, working only on some components, such as the suspension for example. What I can say, racing in LCR feels like I'm in a "family", I get on really well with both the team and the bike. Furthermore, compared to last year, I see an advantage: being the only rider in the team, all the efforts and attention are directed towards me, therefore we work in a single direction".

In short, private Honda but... luxury. This is why Randy De Puniet is also looking with confidence to the next appointment scheduled in Jerez.

“Thinking about the next race, I don't like the track very much, but I did quite well in the winter tests. We have a good base, the Honda-Michelin package works and I think we can get a really good result in Jerez.".

Alessio Piana