The legendary partnership between Honda and Repsol is coming to an end, marking the conclusion of one of motorsport’s most successful collaborations
“Repsol Honda Team: 30 years, 15 championships, 183 victories, 455 podiums. Thank you, Repsol, for making MotoGP history with us!” These were Honda’s parting words to its iconic sponsor, bringing the curtain down on what is widely regarded as the most historic and iconic collaboration in motorsport history.
From Marc Marquez to Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Mick Doohan, Dani Pedrosa, and many more, the Repsol Honda Team has been synonymous with MotoGP greatness for nearly three decades. However, changes in their partnership were evident as early as this year, with Repsol’s branding appearing less prominently on the bike compared to their previous 29 years together.
Repsol-Honda: The Reasons Behind the Split
Now, however, it’s truly over, as the Spanish multinational has decided not to renew its partnership. The reason? The decision seems to be driven by three main factors: the primary one is Repsol’s desire to partner with multiple teams, as they are likely to become one of the suppliers of the new synthetic fuels for MotoGP—a sector in which Repsol appears to be significantly ahead of the competition.
Contributing factors also include the Japanese team’s disappointing performance, currently 11th and last in the Constructors’ Championship standings (even behind the satellite team LCR, with less than half the points), as well as the departure of Marc Marquez, who remains an icon and key figure in MotoGP.
The collaboration will officially continue until December 31, but the farewells between these two legendary names have already begun.
Photo: HRC MotoGP
