Honda needs a positive 2025 MotoGP season after a terrible year in 2024 when their two factory riders scored 35 points between them.
After thirty years as Repsol Honda the factory Honda MotoGP team has begun a new partnership with Castrol.
Honda has been at the back end of the MotoGP field for the last few seasons. The 2024 season highlighted the Japanese manufacturers' MotoGP woes as their two factory riders ended the season as the bottom two riders.
Luca Marini ended his debut year with Honda in 22nd place with 14 points after scoring points on six different occasions. On the other side of the factory Honda garage, Joan Mir ended the year in 21st with 21 points to his name.
Ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season, Honda has been hard at work in Barcelona, Jerez, Malaysia and Thailand. The HRC test team has seen a huge overhaul as Stefan Bradl is now joined by Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami.
The main factory MotoGP riders of Mir and Marini will also remain with the team for 2025. Mir signed a two-year deal for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, but Marini's current deal with Honda expires at the end of the 2025 season.
Koji Watanabe, the President of HRC, said: “On behalf of Honda HRC, I would like to welcome Castrol to the MotoGP project. HRC and Castrol both share the same vision, drive and focus on technology and the future. We have enjoyed great success with them in the past and also in other categories, so it was a natural fit. Everyone is working hard to bring success to the MotoGP World Championship in 2025, we must continue to remain focused and diligently walk the path ahead of us. With Joan Mir and Luca Marini, we have two strong and talented riders to help us push forward on this journey. Racing is at the very core of Honda, and I am sure that we will achieve more success this season.”
Sandeep Sangwan, Castrol's Chief Market Officer, said: “Castrol has a strong legacy in motorsport, and we are thrilled to partner with Honda for the new Honda HRC Castrol motorcycle racing team. As a brand that values superior performance and technical innovation, we see a natural alignment with Honda. This partnership is a great opportunity for Castrol to connect even more closely with motorcycle racing fans and bike enthusiasts and Castrol wishes the team lots of success for the upcoming 2025 MotoGP World Championship season.”
