MADRID, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The energy company Repsol and the Japanese manufacturer Honda have extended their collaboration agreement, which began in 1995, for two more years, until December 31, 2024, with the intention of “leading the sustainable transformation” of MotoGP.
“The last few seasons have been less successful for the Repsol Honda Team, although they have served as a basis for progress in preparing for the future. In this demanding context, Repsol HRC announce today that they are renewing their collaboration for two more seasons, until December 31, 2024, when the 30th anniversary of their alliance will be celebrated. The objective from 2023 is clear: to return to being the best in MotoGP, “they point out in a statement.
The Repsol Honda team has accumulated 183 victories and 15 riders’ world championships in MotoGP; more than half of the premier class world titles won since 1995 have ended up in the team’s showcases.
In addition, he has won ten team championships since the award was created in 2002, and has also achieved a record 454 podium finishes in 500cc and MotoGP thanks to riders such as Mick Doohan, Álex Crivillé, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.
Both companies agree that the main challenge for the coming years will be “to respond to the commitment of Dorna, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and IRTA to convert the championship into a more sustainable sport, reducing the carbon footprint, through the adoption of renewable fuels in MotoGP competition”. In 2024, 40% of the fuel will have to be of non-fossil origin and, in 2027, 100%.
“The Repsol Honda team has been working for some time to lead this sustainable transformation, through research and development of renewable fuels for top competition, ensuring maximum performance and the best levels of energy efficiency, while minimizing CO2 emissions. “, they remember.
Repsol manufactures biofuels from sustainable vegetable oils, biomass, agricultural and forestry residues or used cooking oils, among others. Biofuels, together with synthetic fuels, are a sustainable option and help reduce transport emissions, especially in sectors such as aviation, maritime transport and heavy road transport, for which electrification is not a viable alternative.
According to Repsol, during the first half of 2023 it will start up the first advanced biofuels plant in Spain, in Cartagena (Murcia), where it will manufacture 250,000 tons of advanced biofuels from waste.
Repsol’s Director of Communications and Corporate Marketing, Marcos Fraga, recognized the “pride” that comes with prolonging the “successful trajectory with Honda”. “This collaboration has been, is and will be history in the world of motorcycling and an example of continuous innovation, teamwork and improvement,” he said.
“In our 28 years of partnership, we have faced many challenges together, but now we have an even more ambitious goal: to return to the top in a more sustainable way. Repsol has spent years working on decarbonization and developing renewable fuels as an efficient alternative and sustainable for mobility. Being able to use top competition as a test bed for our products in these circumstances is an even more exciting challenge”, he continued.
For his part, the Director of the Corporate Communications Supervision Unit of and president of Honda Racing Corporation, Koji Watanabe, was enthusiastic about continuing “a long and fruitful association”. “We don’t just work as a sponsor and manufacturer, we are a true team with a deep level of technical collaboration,” he explained.
“With the upcoming changes in fuel regulations, having a partner like Repsol is essential. Once again, we will work together with them to achieve the best performance and the best possible results. Together we have celebrated the good days and we have worked together to overcome the bad ones; we remain focused on returning to the top of the World Championship and continuing to be the reference in the fields of technology and competition”, he concluded.
