AALST, Belgium – The Repsol Honda Team revealed its new MotoGP liveries with a virtual presentation for the first time in Honda’s history on Monday, ahead of the new MotoGP season.
Multi-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will make his return to the premier class from injury this year, joined by Pol Espargaro, who is fresh off his best premier class season to date.
Espargaro will achieve a life-long dream this year by wearing the Repsol Honda colors aboard the factory Honda RC213V.
With over 100 premier-class starts, the 29-year-old is among the most experienced riders in MotoGP and arrives in the best form of his career.
Placing fifth last year in the World Championship standings with five podiums and two pole positions, Espargaro brings both experience and a fire to succeed to the team.
“The lead up to this season has been one of the most exciting of my career, it’s been like waiting for my first season or my MotoGP debut. To ride for the Repsol Honda Team is every rider’s dream and something to be truly proud of,” noted Espargaro. “Every few weeks I have taken another step, seeing the bike at my home, now wearing the leathers. The final step is to ride the RC213V for the first time at Qatar, this excitement is motivating me to train more and be the best I can be for the 2021 World Championship.
“I am here in the Repsol Honda Team in order to achieve success and fight at the top, this is the goal for 2021.”
For Marquez, the upcoming season is a new beginning as he is set to return from his season-ending injury sustained in Jerez last year.
Focusing exclusively on his recovery from a broken right humerus, Marquez has been working diligently to return to his best and come back strong for the new season.
“After a long time away it was nice to see my bike again and wear my leathers. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone and especially for me with the injury and watching the races from home. But I have continued to work with the doctors, with my team and with myself to recover and return to MotoGP,” said Marquez. “Of course, I would have liked to return sooner, but it is very important to listen to the doctors and my body until I am fully fit. I can imagine the best comeback that is to start riding again the bike and be the same, but it will be difficult to be like this. But we will see if it takes one race, two races, half the season to be the same Marc. I will not be at the Qatar Test, as I aim to return only when I am 100 percent and there is still some work to do.”
The iconic Repsol Honda livery will be another constant in 2021, as Repsol and Honda continue their more than quarter-century long partnership.
With 180 premier class wins, 447 premier class podiums and 15 championships, the combination the most decorated in professional motorcycle racing and determined to return to those levels of success after a rough campaign last year.
“We of course look forward to achieving the results that have always been our trademark, like fighting for victories, podiums and championships. This is the reason why, after more than 25 years, we continue side by side with the best partner in MotoGP, Honda,” said Ana Camps, Sponsoring, Media, Advertising and PR Deputy Director for Repsol. “The alliance between our two companies goes beyond a sponsorship agreement and is based on technology: collaboration between Honda’s facilities in Saitama and the Repsol Tech Lab in Madrid. We know that Marc is an extraordinary rider and a unique person with a great ability to overcome anything, so we have no doubt that he will soon amaze us again. Marc, of course, has all our support to achieve the goals he pursues.
“We also look forward to the arrival of a new rider, Pol Espargaro. He is a great professional and a mature rider and will now have an opportunity to prove his amazing talent.
“We enter another season full of anticipation and desire. After what has been a difficult 2020, we are continuing to learn and to work to return to the top of championship, added HRC Director Tetsuhiro Kuwata. “From the technical side, HRC have been working as hard as always to keep improving the RC213V. We have a new rider in the shape of Pol Espargaro this year who brings good experience and a desire for victory. We are all eagerly awaiting the first test with him. On Marc’s side, we have been closely following his recovery and will continue to do everything we can to support him to return as strong as possible.
“Finally, I would like to thank Repsol and all of our sponsors for their continued support. Without them we would be unable to go racing, they are not just sponsors but partners on this great challenge.”
The Repsol Honda will travel to Qatar for MotoGP pre-season testing, where Espargaro will get his first taste of the Honda RC213V. Marquez will not attend the Qatar test as he continues to focus on his recovery.