It is official, the Repsol Honda partnership in MotoGP ends after 2024, bringing the most successful partnership to an end after 30 stellar years.
The Spanish petroleum giant will not only cease to be the factory team’s main sponsor, but will also stop supplying fuel and lubricants to the team.
Repsol had begun sponsoring factory Honda team in 1995 when Mick Doohan, Alex Crivillé, and Shinichi Itoh were the riders. Since then, the Repsol Honda venture had racked in 183 wins, 455 podiums, 10 teams titles, and 15 rider titles in the 500cc and MotoGP classes, through the exploits of Doohan, Crivillé, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, and Marc Marquez.
The split is not a surprise. In fact, there were rumours that Repsol had wanted out during every contract renewal. However, the rumours grew stronger at the end of last year when it became clear that Honda is struggling in MotoGP, but Marc Marquez’s departure from the team was the true catalyst. As such, it was rumoured that Repsol renewed their Honda sponsorship for only one last season, and at 50% cut (thus explaining the smaller Repsol logo).
News of Repsol’s departure had begun in May when HRC was seen trying to secure a title sponsor plus fuel and lubricant supplier. The factory needs a supplier quickly because of Dorna and FIM’s fuel requirements. The fuels in MotoGP bikes this season is 40% from sustainable sources, before reaching 100% in 2027, when the engines are switched to 850cc. Therefore, fuel and lubricants play a major role in engine development. At this high level, different fuels and lubricants will result in different torque and power characteristics, hence different engine mapping and even construction is required.
So, who will step up? Malaysian fans are certainly hoping Petronas will, since they are already sponsoring MIE Racing where Adam Norrodin and Khairul Idham Pawi are riders. They are riding the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade in the World Superbike Championship and the Honda CBR600RR in the World SuperSport Championship, respectively.
