MotoGP crew chief search goes on for Scott Redding

Scott Redding is still waiting to learn who will be the technical mastermind behind his rookie MotoGP campaign in 2014 after current crew chief Pete Benson declined the chance to move to the Gresini squad with the rising British star.

Redding and Benson have formed a close relationship after working together in the Marc VDS Racing Moto2 squad since 2010.

But Benson, who was Nicky Hayden’s crew chief at Repsol Honda when the American captured the MotoGP crown in 2006, won’t be returning to the premier class when Redding rides a production Honda RCV1000R racer next season.

Redding, who goes into this weekend’s Misano Moto2 race with a commanding 38-point advantage over closest rival Pol Espargaro, told MCN: “I’m disappointed that Pete can’t come with me and I would have liked to take some guys with me just to have a familiar feeling because we have a strong relationship. I am sure my crew will all be on a high level but building up a relationship again is the hard thing for me. Gresini want to go racing to win and they have worked with some special riders.”

Talks with potential candidates to be Redding’s crew chief will continue this weekend at the Misano round.

But one option ruled out was a bold move to get Casey Stoner’s respected crew chief Cristian Gabbarini to work with the Gloucestershire rider.

Gabbarini worked with Stoner when the Aussie won both his world titles for Ducati in 2007 and Honda in 2011 but after the 27-year-old retired, the Italian engineer was given a senior technical role inside HRC.

Redding’s Marc VDS Racing manager Michael Bartholemy, who also looks after his personal affairs too, told MCN: “One idea was Cristian, who worked with Stoner. We asked to HRC but we never got an answer. I think for him it would have been nice to be directly back in the field. I am looking now to find the best compromise.”

Asked why Benson was not moving to Gresini with Redding, Bartholemy added: “In the talks (with Gresini) we could suggest some people but we have not decided who will be his crew chief next year. But it won’t be Pete. Maybe people feel very good in Marc VDS Racing.”

HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto said the Japanese factory is not willing to release Gabbarini and he told MCN during the recent British Grand Prix at Silverstone: “This is impossible. Cristian is doing a different job now. He is an engineer for HRC and not team staff. He is collecting data, rider comments and he has input into bike development. We need more engineers of Cristian’s level. We are very happy with his work and experience.”