MotoGP Mailbag: Will Marquez one day switch to KTM?

Tudor Lica (via email): Do you think that Marc Marquez will try a different factory from 2019? KTM or Ducati, maybe? 

I think Marquez will renew with Honda this time, but at the same time I think this could be his last contract with HRC. It all depends on the results of the next two or three years, but if he keeps winning, I think he will then want to try and win with another bike.

I know KTM will be interested in signing him, but I think they have to be focussed on building a competitive bike first.

@bouncebckbltrx: How do you think Alberto Puig's appointment at HRC will impact the Marquez-Pedrosa dynamic?

I think Puig will be a really good asset for the team, as he speaks the same language as the riders: racing. He is a clear and a straightforward guy and knows really well the championship.

On the other hand, It will be interesting to see how Pedrosa manages the situation considering the time they had together in the past.

Michelle Havranek (via email): Where does Valentino Rossi need to end up in the championship in order for him to continue in MotoGP? 

I don’t think there is any specific place in which Rossi has to end up in order to continue in MotoGP. As he has shown in the last test in Malaysia, he is still pretty fast, and that’s the most important.

But at the same time, I don’t see him being a mid-grid rider, so he needs to fight for podiums and victories to keep the hunger. Yamaha is more interested than anybody else on keeping him on track.

@pilotoRX: What are the expectations for MotoGP's new electric class? Will there be a similar surge in interest among bike manufacturers as we have seen in Formula E?

I think cars and bikes are a bit different in that regard. I don’t think an electric bike will ever reach the same performance as a MotoGP bike, but It can be a good supporting series.

I don’t see the current manufacturers interested in investing for the moment in this technology.

Brad Klenk (via Facebook): What do you think about Bradley Smith staying on at KTM in 2018? It really feels like he’s just making up the numbers, in my opinion.

I think KTM gave him kind of last chance and he has to deliver, that’s for sure. At that stage, KTM needs two fast riders in order to develop the bike as fast as possible, and Bradley’s performance was much lower than expected last year.

Harvey Hole (via email): Any news on what ex-MotoGP racer Alex de Angelis is doing this year after losing his Pedercini World Superbike ride?

German publication Speedweek has reported that de Angelis has taken up a position at the Tasca Racing Moto2 team to be Federico Fuligni's rider coach. He was present at the Valencia test in this role.

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