Honda’s MotoGP organisation has penned a two-year extension with long-time title sponsor Repsol until at least the end of 2024, extending the relationship to nearly three decades.
The Japanese manufacturer first linked up with the Spanish lubricant giant way back in 1995, with the brands orange and red branding becoming synonymous with Honda’s factory-run premier class prototypes ever since.
Repsol Communications and Corporate director Marcos Fraga says the company is “proud” to extend its collaboration with Honda for at least the next two seasons, adding that the two parties are working towards the “ambitious goal” of developing the best sustainable fuel as MotoGP works towards running 100% sustainable fuel for the 2024 term.
“Repsol are proud to extend our successful history with Honda,” said Fraga.
“This collaboration has been, is and will be history in the world of motorcycle racing, and an example of continuous innovation, teamwork, and improvement.
“In our 28 years of partnership, we have faced many challenges together, but now we have an even more ambitious goal: To return to the top in a more sustainable way.
“Repsol have been working for years on decarbonisation and developing renewable fuels as an efficient and sustainable alternative for mobility.
“Being able to use top level competition as a testing ground for our products in these circumstances is an even more exciting challenge.”
Repsol’s mention of its focus on developing a new 100% sustainable fuel points towards a likely contract extension well beyond 2024 as the partnership aims to return to the very forefront of premier class competitions following a tough few seasons.
Honda’s last win came 12 months ago after Marc Marquez led home team-mate Pol Espargaro in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Misano, while its last rostrum result came courtesy of Marquez’s strong run to second in last weekend’s Australian GP.
The Repsol and Honda partnership has so far collected a total of 15 rider’s titles – its last to date coming with Marquez back in 2019 – in addition to a stout 183 victories and 454 podium finishes.
