Scott Redding excited to work with Jonathan Rea’s crew chief

Scott Redding believes his new crew chief Chris Pike is the right man to help him to challenge MotoGP’s established elite like Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the future.

Pike is something of a surprise choice to be Redding’s 2015 crew chief given he has no MotoGP experience, but he is highly respected by Honda having worked previously for the Castrol-backed WSB squad.

Pike, who most recently has been working with Jonathan Rea in the Ten Kate Honda WSB squad, will be Redding’s crew chief in the new Marc VDS Racing Honda MotoGP squad.

Marc VDS will expand into MotoGP next season, as well as maintaining its high profile presence in Moto2 and has re-signed Redding on a two-year deal to ride a factory RC213V.

Redding, who spoke to Casey Stoner’s ex-crew chief Cristian Gabbarini, told MCN: “I know Chris has worked work with Jonathan Rea and he has been with Honda for quite a few years. He has come from WSB but I have a lot of belief in him and I am looking forward to working with him. MotoGP and WSB will be quite different but we need to work closely in pre-season testing for him to get used to the bike and for us to get a good working relationship. A few people I know have said that he is a good crew chief and to be with Honda for so many years you have got to be something special.”

Redding said he isn’t worried about Pike’s lack of MotoGP experience given how Valentino Rossi’s successful relationship with ex-WSB crew chief Silvano Galbusera, who replaced Burgess for 2014.

Redding added: “Valentino took a guy from WSB last year and if anything it is better for him. It has been a difficult decision and I put all my belief into him. It is a big project with a lot of time, money and effort put in by a lot of people, so we need to make the results happen and he has to be the main guy to help me.”