Repsol Extends Honda MotoGP Sponsorship to 2017

Spanish oil and gas company Repsol has renewed its long-standing partnership with Honda‘s MotoGP program, ensuring we’ll continue to Honda’s factory prototypes in their iconic orange through the 2017 season.

Repsol has backed Honda’s team since February 1995, making them the longest-running factory team sponsorship pairing in Grand Prix motorcycle racing history. In their two decades together, Repsol and Honda have claimed 10 rider titles, 133 race wins and 354 podiums. Repsol Honda has also claimed six team championships since the title was first awarded in 2002. World champions sporting the Repsol Honda colors include Mick Doohan, Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and, most recently, Marc Marquez.

The reigning World Champion Marquez is far and away the top rider in the world, having gone undefeated through nine rounds this season. His teammate Dani Pedrosa, who has been with Repsol Honda since entering the premier class in 2006, is currently second in the championship chase with seven podiums.

“We are very satisfied with the renewal of this agreement, which has been in place since 1995 and has given us such success, both in terms of sporting results and technological development,” says Begona Elices, Repsol director general of communication and presidency. “We have two exceptional riders in Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, who represent Repsol Values perfectly. This bond with the highest level of competition is the best impulse to improve as a global company, to investigate and develop cutting edge fuels and lubricants. Our alliance with Honda is an example of teamwork, completed by two riders who are ambassadors of our values, such as integrity, responsibility, bravery, enthusiasm and overcoming adversity.”

The length of the contract carries Honda beyond 2016 when both Marquez and Pedrosa’s contracts are set to expire. Renewing its partnership with Repsol gives Honda a better position to sign new contracts beyond that season.

[Source: Honda; Photo by GEPA Pictures]

By Dennis Chung