Honda's Boss Pays the Price: Puig Skips Americas MotoGP Amid Recovery
In a twist that rivals any soap opera plot, Honda Racing's team manager, Alberto Puig, is set to miss his third consecutive Grand Prix this weekend at the Americas MotoGP in Austin. Why, you ask? A leg that has seen more surgeries than a Hollywood star’s face after a bad Botox session.
Puig, whose left leg has been a constant source of pain since a 1995 accident at Le Mans, is still recovering from a surgery he underwent just before the season opener in Thailand. With a daunting record of surgeries under his belt, it’s safe to say that Puig’s relationship with his left leg is complicated – and frankly, it seems to have gone sour.
Despite his absence on the grid, Puig is not completely out of the loop. The former racer and now team manager has been in constant contact with Honda's elite lineup, ensuring he’s updated on every twist and turn from afar – a real team player, even when he’s sidelined.
For an man whose career has unfolded over 30 years with Honda, seeing the riders take center stage while he recovers isn’t just galling; it’s downright unbearable. "It’s difficult to manage this pain and the surgeries that keep piling up like an overweight tire on a Sunday race day," he confessed, clearly longing for the thrill of the paddock.
As Puig takes time to heal, he's joined by fellow sidelined stars: reigning world champion Jorge Martin and Miguel Oliveira, both missing the race due to injuries sustained in the run-up to the season. With Puig abdicating his role in Austin, who knows who will keep the Honda circus running smoothly?
This isn’t the first time Honda's garage echoed with drama, but what’s a racing season without a little chaos? Here’s hoping Puig’s recovery means he’ll be back at the helm soon, steering Honda back into a competitive light.
The 2025 season has kicked off, and despite the missing key figures, Honda’s showing hints at a turnaround. With any luck and a bit of healing magic, we might see the team roaring back to form—hopefully with Puig at the helm before too long.
