Most Successful Partnership in MotoGP History Comes to End: Honda and Repsol Part Ways

Repsol’s decision to not renew its Honda agreement for MotoGP means that one of the most enduring and prosperous partnerships in motorsport will come to an end after 2024.

At the conclusion of the ongoing MotoGP season, Repsol has stated that it will be terminating its three-decade partnership with the Honda Team (Honda Racing Corporation). Since 1995, the Spanish oil and gas giant has sponsored the Honda Motor Company’s motorsport division, based in Japan. This cooperation has resulted in the creation of one of the most well-known liveries in the history of motorcycle racing.

Repsol had already scaled back its support for the factory team of Honda this season, which forced the Saitama-headquartered automaker to replace the all-orange paint job with a hybrid livery that included its corporate colors. However, Repsol’s orange shade and branding will entirely vanish from the RC213V after the 2024 campaign ends, since the firm has decided not to extend its current contract with the manufacturer.

Repsol and Honda Brought Forth Champions Like Rossi, Stoner…

After they became partners 30 years ago, Repsol and Honda jointly took the title in the premier class already in the first season. Together, they managed to win as many as 15 rider titles, 10 more in team competition. Their record is 183 race victories and as many as 455 podium appearances.

The last title, Repsol Honda won in 2019 with Marc Márquez, who’s currently competing for Gresini Racing MotoGP and is the third-biggest favorite to win the current championship, according to the best bookmaker sites for motorsport betting. Before him, the champions were Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan, Nicky Hayden…

All in all, in terms of championship wins, the Repsol Honda Team is the all-time most successful MotoGP team.