The Honda Racing Corporation to remain in the MotoGP World Championship until the end of 2026. The Corporation signed a five-year deal with Dorna Sports. Dorna Sports is an international sports management, marketing, and media company in charge of MotoGP contracts.
Honda will continue to add to their illustrious history in Grand Prix racing as an agreement is signed with Dorna Sports S.L. to compete for the next five years, from 2022 to 2026.https://t.co/f0jSMiGo61
— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) February 5, 2021
Honda has been a dominant manufacturing giant in MotoGP since its inception back in 1982. They won the title 20 times and most recently with Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez in 2019. Subsequently, KTM and Ducati renewed their contracts with MotoGP, Honda has joined the duo for the Championship this year too. This contract renewal came as a little surprise to the MotoGP fans.
Honda rider Marc Marquez of Spain (front) leads the pack into the first at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The contract
Regarding the contract renewal, Noriaki Abe, Honda’s Managing Officer of Motorcycle Operations, said, “First, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to Carmelo Ezpeleta and everyone at Dorna Sports for their hard work in organising races during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am very pleased that we have renewed our contract to compete in MotoGP from 2022 to 2026.”
Abe also stated, “Honda has been competing in the FIM Grand Prix World Championship since 1959, and won its 800th grand prix last year. Honda believes MotoGP racing is vital to our motorsports activities. MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing – it allows us to develop various technologies, and through fierce competition, teach our engineers and nurture their skills.”
It takes a long time to rack up 801 World Championship victories! 😅@HRC_MotoGP's route to being the most successful manufacturer in the sport's history has been a long one! 📈#MotoGP | 📰https://t.co/jrhjR5YmDr
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 5, 2021
“With these engineers working on the development of production vehicles, Honda can create better products for its customers. Honda will continue to bring dreams and joy to its customers worldwide through its motorsports activities, including MotoGP.”, Abe further asserted.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports CEO, added, “This important announcement brings great pride to MotoGP because Honda is one of the first names that comes to our mind when we think about motorcycling racing, The Japanese manufacturer has been such an important part of the past, present and future of the FIM MotoGP World Championship and this renewal reinforces, even more, the commitment between both parties.”
Repsol Honda Team Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates in the pits of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix on October 21, 2018.
Honda for 2021 season
Honda currently fields four bikes in MotoGP as of now. Two Repsol backed factory team(Repsol Honda Team). The other two being LCR (Lucio Cecchinello Racing) backed factory team. In the 2021 season, Honda will be the factory supporter for both the vessel.
Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez gets back in the pits with his Honda at the Italian Moto GP Grand Prix on June 1, 2019.
Honda comes into Season 2021 MotoGP with a revised line-up. The Spaniard Pol Espargaro signed a two-year deal to join Marc Marquez at the Repsol Honda team.
The team will officially launch the duo for the 2021 season on 22 February. It will take place in a virtual presentation featuring both Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez.
However, LCR will field Marc’s younger brother Alex Marquez and the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami for the 2021 season. Alex Marquez’s LCR official launch will be on 19 February.
Followed by Japanese Nakagami’s 2021 launch event taking place a day after. The MotoGP 2021 season begins with two races in Qatar, with pre-season testing to commence in the first week of March.
