Repsol and Honda to Part Ways
Neil Morrison | September 10, 2024
It has been confirmed that Repsol and the Honda HRC MotoGP Team have decided to part ways at the close of 2024.
The Repsol Honda marriage is about to end. However, it’s rumored Honda is about to tie the knot with a new title sponsor in MotoGP.
The news represents another end of the era for HRC. A partnership between the Spanish oil giant and Japan’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer became the most successful in history since it began in 1995. Since then, Repsol Honda has won 15 premier class titles, 183 races, and 455 podiums over a 30-year period.
The relationship between the two parties has been rocky for some time. The loss of Spanish superstar Marc Marquez to Gresini Ducati at the close of 2023 and Honda’s worst run of results since the early ’80s were factors in Repsol’s apparent unhappiness with the partnership. It’s believed they were willing to offer less in terms of sponsorship at the start of this year.
That was reflected in March when the legendary orange colors were not as prevalent on the fairings of current riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini. Evidently, Repsol did not take kindly to this.
Yet, it’s also believed the news was not greeted with dismay by HRC bosses; far from it. Relations have been frayed for some time, and Repsol’s demands had tired some at Honda. Despite its riders currently sitting 21st and 25th in the MotoGP World Championship, it has been rumored Honda already has found a replacement title sponsor.
The Repsol Honda Trials Team is reportedly unaffected.
Click here for all the latest MotoGP news.
