The collaboration between Repsol and Honda, which has made history in MotoGP racing for almost three decades, will officially come to an end at the end of 2024. On the weekend of the San Marino MotoGP, Repsol announced that it will not continue its partnership with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) after the current contract expires on December 31, 2024. This news comes after ongoing speculation, particularly following Marc Márquez's move to Gresini Racing and the challenges this poses for the Honda team.
The collaboration between Repsol and Honda began over 30 years ago and led to impressive successes. During this time, a total of 15 world championship titles were won in the MotoGP class, including six championships by Marc Márquez. The team also achieved 183 victories and 455 podium finishes. Despite this impressive record, the 2024 season does not appear to have brought any additional success for the team so far. The sporting results and the departure of Márquez have noticeably cooled the relationship between Repsol and Honda.
Sluggish 2024 season and lack of visibility
The dominance of the Repsol Honda team in MotoGP has already been increasingly called into question in recent years. The results achieved so far in the 2024 season illustrate the difficult situation. Long-time main sponsor Repsol is likely to be particularly disappointed by the lack of visibility. In contrast to previous years, in which the Repsol logo was a defining feature of the design of the Honda bikes, it is far less prominent in the 2024 season.
One reason for this could be the performance of the two current riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini. The results of the season so far speak for themselves: Mir achieved ninth place in Spain during a sprint race, which is the best result for the team so far. Nevertheless, there have been no top 10 finishes in regular races so far. Mir has also had two retirements in sprint races (America and France) and two in full-time races (America and France). Marini was able to finish all races, which provides the team with valuable data, but also failed to finish in the top ten.
Lack of success and impact on sponsors
For sponsors such as Repsol, it is not only sporting success that plays a role, but also the visibility of the team and its brands. The performance of the Honda bikes in the 2024 season means that they are hardly in the focus of the camera during the races – a decisive factor for sponsors who want to see their brand presented in the best possible way. Especially in a series as high-profile and globally visible as MotoGP, it is essential that sponsors receive appropriate media coverage. If this does not happen, it can lead to a reassessment of the sponsorship strategy.
It is therefore understandable that Repsol, after such a long and successful collaboration, has decided to break new ground. Even though Repsol has announced that it will remain active in motorsport, this will no longer be alongside Honda in MotoGP from 2025.
Outlook for the future
The 2024 season is not yet over, and it remains to be seen whether Honda can improve its performance in the remaining races. What is clear for the post-Repsol partnership, however, is that Honda is facing a significant restructuring. Both Repsol and Honda have made their mark on the MotoGP landscape over the past 30 years and the end of this partnership marks the end of an era. It remains to be seen whether Honda will be able to return to its former successes in the coming years.
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