No MotoGP reunion for Scott Redding and ex-Marc VDS crew chief

Scott Redding’s former crew chief Pete Benson has confirmed he will honour his two-year deal with Moto2 world title favourite Tito Rabat and not complete a fairytale return with the British rider now he has clinched a factory Honda RC213V deal with the Marc VDS Racing squad in 2015.

With Marc VDS Racing signing an agreement with HRC for the lease of a factory RC213V for Redding, many assumed he would be reunited with crew chief Benson, who he formed a close relationship when they were paired together for four years in Moto2.

But the Kiwi, who has previously worked with Valentino Rossi and led Nicky Hayden to the 2006 MotoGP crown at Repsol Honda, will stick with Spaniard Rabat next season.

Speaking to MCN, Benson said: “I have a two-year agreement with Tito and that stands. I would still like to go back to MotoGP but at the moment I’m having a lot of fun doing what I am doing and it is working well. I am with Tito for 2015 and then after that we will see what happens.”

Benson denied he’d been approached by Redding about next season and he added: “This deal was already done for two years and there is not really any point in discussing something that can’t happen.”

Benson also believe integrating back into the Marc VDS set-up won’t be so simple for Redding, as different personnel will be involved.

He added: “It is still the Marc VDS team but it will be a completely different group of people and they will have to build a good working relationship again pretty much starting from scratch. At least coming here he will know his best interests are being looked after and that is always a positive thing on its own.”

The identity of Redding’s 2015 crew chief has still to be revealed, with his number one pick of Cristian Gabbarini off limits now he will go to LCR Honda with Jack Miller.