Just after the MotoGP race at the Misano circuit, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) made official what, sadly, many of us were already expecting: after almost three decades of collaboration in the World Motorcycle Championship, lThe Japanese firm and Repsol will separate at the end of the 2024 season.
And so, one of the most successful partnerships in the history of the championship comes to an end, with protagonists of the calibre of Mick Doohan, Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Alex Barros, Max Biaggi, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and, of course, Marc Marquez.
Honda, far from the intense competition between European factoriescontinues to work to reverse its complicated sporting situation, very far from its years of glory. In this context, Honda issued a brief statement announcing the end of its relationship with Repsol after 29 years:
«Repsol has decided not to renew its sponsorship contract with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in the MotoGP World Championship, which ends on December 31 of this year. The Repsol Honda Team is the most successful team in the history of the championship, with 11 team titles, 15 rider titles and 183 victories in the top category of motorcycling«.
For its part, Repsol thanked “HRC’s commitment and dedication over all these years of collaboration”and confirmed that she will remain linked to the motorsport to continue developing its products and services. However, this is the end of an iconic relationship which united the emblematic corporate colours of the Spanish company with Honda since 1995.
Marc Márquez’s injury in 2020 marked a turning pointas his absence exposed Honda’s weak points, andthe results fell dramatically. In 2024, Joan Mir’s best results have been two 12th places in Portugal and Jerez, while he has accumulated numerous retirements in the last two seasons. Added to this is the fact that Márquez, his former emblem, signed for Ducati before the start of the 2024 season and will be a Ducati Lenovo rider starting next year, as an official rider for the Italian factory.
The presence of the Repsol logo and iconic colours had already lost a lot of importance in the team’s image, and this year the Honda HRC corporate colours had already taken centre stage on its bikes.
So, An era in the World Motorcycle Championship comes to a closeat a particularly difficult time for Japanese brands, such as Yamaha, which is also fighting to stay in the points, while European manufacturers are taking advantage of one of the most technological regulations in the history of the championship, which will make important reforms for the still distant 2027.
