Puig to step down as HRC team manager in 2027 to take on advisory role

Alberto Puig will step down as team manager of Honda's factory squad at the end of the current MotoGP season to become an advisor to the Japanese manufacturer.

The news comes less than a week after it emerged that Davide Brivio, currently team principal at Trackhouse and previously a senior executive at Yamaha and Suzuki, will leave the American outfit at the end of the year to join HRC from 2027.

However, Autosport understands that the role Honda has assigned to Brivio will not be that of team manager, but instead be more closely related to marketing and commercial activities.

"After almost a decade as team manager for Honda HRC’s factory MotoGP team, Alberto Puig will take up a key advisory role for Honda HRC from 2027," read a statement from Honda.

"Honda Racing Corporation will continue to utilise Alberto Puig’s four decades of grand prix racing experience as the 59-year-old Barcelona-native transitions to a new role within Honda HRC.

"Appointed team manager of Honda HRC’s factory team in 2018, Puig guided the squad to back-to-back triple crowns. The new role will see Puig continue to assist Honda HRC management and staff with a number of tasks across all of Honda’s two-wheeled racing activities.

"As HRC advisor, Puig will continue to help shape HRC’s youth development programmes while simultaneously bolstering Honda’s efforts in the MotoGP and WorldSBK championships by supporting management staff and riders by assessing the overall picture of Honda HRC’s two-wheeled activities."

Puig, 59, succeeded Livio Suppo in the role he has held since 2018. The Spaniard’s connection with Honda has always been particularly strong, both during his career as a rider and after his retirement in 1997 following the serious crash he suffered at Le Mans in 1995, which left his left leg badly injured.

Luca Marini, Honda HRC

Photo by: Pierre-Louis Le Mouëllic

Earlier that same year, in Jerez, the Barcelona native had celebrated his first victory in the premier class — then the 500cc category.

After hanging up his leathers, he took on several roles linked to the world championship, often working alongside Dorna, promoter of the series. He was director of the popular Movistar-backed development cup that helped produce stars including Dani Pedrosa, whose manager Puig later became.

He also played a key role in the creation of Honda’s talent development cups, a position he still holds today.

“I first stepped into the world championship paddock in 1987 and since then I have been a racer, worked with young riders, a rider manager and a team manager – always with Honda," said Puig.

"During this time, I have experienced many moments, positive and negative, all of which have given me valuable knowledge on how to work with riders, people and different situations.

"It’s been a life of leading from the front and now I feel my skills are best suited to look at the overall picture. I am looking forward to using my experience in this new opportunity to help Honda HRC, its riders and its staff to grow and face all the challenges and successes which racing presents.”

Honda is expected to announce a replacement for Puig in the coming weeks.