As reported exclusively by Motorsport.com on May 28, Spanish multinational oil company Repsol will no longer be the title sponsor of the Honda HRC team, after 30 years of uninterrupted participation in the World Championship.
On a sad day for the Honda team, which was unable to field any riders for the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix race due to a virus that sidelined Joan Mir and Luca Marini, the oil company released a statement announcing its exit from Honda.
“Repsol has decided not to renew its current sponsorship agreement with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in the MotoGP World Championship, which expires on 31 December this year,” the statement began.
“The Repsol Honda Team is the most successful team in the history of the championship, with 11 team titles, 15 riders’ titles and 183 victories in the premier class of motorcycle racing.”
“Repsol is grateful for HRC’s commitment and dedication throughout these years of working together. The multi-energy company will continue to be linked to motor racing, with the aim of continuing to develop products and services of the highest quality,” the statement concludes.
Repsol first appeared on the Honda NSR500 livery in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 1995, with Mick Doohan and Alex Crivillé as riders, and has remained uninterrupted for 30 years since, with the current season marking this anniversary. One of the longest relationships in the history of the championship, it has resulted in 15 world championships, 183 victories and 455 podiums.
Following the departure of Marc Marquez at the end of 2023, the oil company, which had renewed the same year until the end of 2024 with the 1+1 formula, has enforced a clause in the contract to reduce its financial contribution and, in exchange, lose part of its presence in the livery of the RC213V. The bike ridden this year by Luca Marini and Joan Mir, on which the name of the manufacturer predominates over that of the sponsor.
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