Honda MotoGP News
Since 1995, the Spanish oil company Repsol has been the main sponsor for the Honda team in MotoGP. This collaboration between Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Repsol has resulted in eight World Championship titles, 90 Grand Prix victories and 252 podiums, and has turned the Repsol Honda Team machines into “icons that are immediately recognized by motorcycling fans worldwide.”
And on Monday, it was confirmed that this relationship will continue, as HRC and Repsol have renewed their contract for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Repsol will continue as the main sponsor, and also continue supplying fuel and lubricants to the Repsol Honda Team.
And the team will be very competitive as well, considering Repsol Honda will field three riders for the 2011 season: Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and the new comer who left the Ducati Team, Casey Stoner.
With the 2007 World Champion Stoner joining the Spaniard Pedrosa and the Italian Dovizioso, the Repsol Honda MotoGP team will present a very powerful squad that’s more than capable of reclaiming the MotoGP World Championship; the last time Repsol Honda took the championship title in the premier class was 2006 with Nicky Hayden.
Over the next two years, Repsol will continue to be the official supplier of competition fuel and lubricants to the Repsol Honda Team. The specific fuel that the team uses is developed by the Repsol Technology Center (RTC), located in Móstoles (Madrid).
Repsol, which has been in the world of competition for 40 years – an unbeatable test bench for its products -, has gathered extensive experience in developing and manufacturing fuels and lubricants for the main racing competitions.
Begona Elices (Corporate Director for Communications and Chairman’s Office at Repsol) says: “Repsol is extremely satisfied to be able to extend for another two seasons such a successful relationship with HRC, which will reach 18 years and during which we have achieved ninety victories in the premier class of motorcycle racing. The combination of a reference manufacturer like Honda and three riders like Dani, Andrea and Casey, guarantees us a permanent hope for the whole championship as well as a place in the leading positions of the standings.”
“Competing in the top class is intrinsic to Repsol; it is part of the corporate philosophy and strategy of our company. Top competition gives us the opportunity to be leaders in research and development of new fuels and lubricants while allowing us to maintain a much closer relationship with our customers.”
Tetsuo Suzuki (HRC President) says:”We are delighted to announce that our valued partners at Repsol will once again join us in our quest for the MotoGP World Championship next year. Honda’s partnership with Repsol has been long and successful and we are very proud to be together again for this challenge into the future.”
“We are also very pleased to expand the Repsol Honda Team to once again include three riders next year. Our current riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will be joined by Casey Stoner in Repsol Honda colors to form a truly formidable line-up that we believe can fight for victory at every race and achieve our joint goals: recapturing all three MotoGP World Championship titles.”
