Repsol Honda Team turns 20
The relationship between Repsol and Honda that began in February of 1995 is now the longest running partnership between sponsor and manufacturer in the history of the Motorcycle World Championship.
That partnership has delivered success, too, with Repsol Honda winning 10 world championships, along with 124 race wins and 338 podiums in 500cc and MotoGP competition. Of those ten world titles, Aussies are responsible for half of them, with Mick Doohan winning in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998, while Casey Stoner claimed the championship with Repsol Honda in 2011.
Since the creation of a 'Team's Champion' prize in 2002, Repsol Honda have won that on six occasions.
At the Madrid event, current Repsol Honda Team riders, Marc Marquez (with Repsol Honda since 2013) and Dani Pedrosa (with Repsol Honda since 2006), were joined by 1999 World Champion Alex Crivillé. Also participating was Repsol's Director General of Communication and Presidency, Begoña Elices, Repsol's Deputy Director of Sponsorship, Milagros Vior and Repsol Honda Team Principal, Livio Suppo.
The President of the Spanish Sports Ministry, Miguel Cardenal, Dorna CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta and RFME President, Angel Viladoms were also in attendance. Honda Racing Corporation's Executive Vice President, Shuhei Nakamoto, was caught in severe weather in Japan and unable to attend the event.
Six of the title-winning bikes were on display at the event: Those of Mick Doohan (1997), Alex Criville (1999), Valentino Rossi (2003), Nicky Hayden (2006), Casey Stoner (2011) and Marc Marquez (2013).
Premier class World Champions with Repsol Honda Team:
-Mick Doohan 1995-98*
-Alex Criville 1999
-Valentino Rossi 2001-03
-Nicky Hayden 2006
-Casey Stoner 2011
-Marc Marquez 2013
* Doohan also won in 1994 under Honda Team HRC colours (his first World Title), and previously finished runner-up in the championship on two occasions under Rothmans Honda colours.
Speaking at the 20th Anniversary presentation, Marc Marquez said:
"It's hard to explain what it feels like to see my bike here with other title-winning machines. It is an honour to be part of the Repsol Honda Team and to be part of the team's history with my World Championship.
"Seeing my bike alongside those of Rossi, Criville, Doohan, Stoner and Hayden fills me with pride and gives me extra motivation for this season.
"Joining this team last year was a dream come true. All my idols have come through the Repsol Honda Team. It was an opportunity that I had to make the most of, and that is what I am doing. I enjoy every day to the fullest"
The Repsol and Honda collaboration
For Repsol, the long collaboration with Honda is a stimulus for the development of products for the demanding level of competition found in the Motorcycle World Championship. These developments are passed on to more than 4000 service stations in the company. The relationship is also a close link between the Honda laboratory in Saitama, Japan, and the Repsol Technology Centre in Mostoles, Spain.
These two decades of teamwork are an example of long lasting collaboration and an aspiration of excellence. Repsol and Honda operate in separate sectors and have different corporate cultures, but have been capable of using their strengths to achieve a successful partnership since the 1990's. The collaboration began to develop two-stroke engines and fuels, later moving on to the development of 4-stroke technologies.
At the Repsol Technology Centre investigations are made with a single cylinder engine identical to that used in Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa's bikes. Only the Honda engineers in Saitama have one like this. This year, MotoGP fuel quantities are limited to 20 litres - one fewer than in 2013.
Images: Repsol Honda Team and motogp.com
