MotoGP, here is Mir and Marini’s new HRC bike, in Honda colours

The Warner Music Station in Madrid served as a backdrop for the presentation of the 2024 Honda RC213V with which Joan Mir and Luca Marini will compete in MotoGP this season. And there is revolution on two fronts, with technical choices that seek to reinstate a certain level of competitiveness, and aesthetic choices that tell of a new era. Hence, the orange of sponsor Repsol gives way to the traditional Honda colours for a decidedly different livery.

 

Mir ready for his second season with HRC: "Different, bold colours"

Repsol and Honda celebrate 30 years of collaboration this year, in what is a new era for the Japanese manufacturer, which aims to return to the positions that count thanks to the concessions. A new pairing will represent the manufacturer on track, or rather Mir, in his second year, and Luca Marini, a new arrival who has spent the last two years with the VR46 team.

Mir, who inherits Marc Marquez’s historic crew chief Santi Hernandez, comments: “It’s amazing to be part of a team with such history and success in MotoGP, I am as excited to start this season with the Repsol Honda Team as I was the last one". As for the new livery: "I think the colours for this year are really different and very bold, certainly something unique from the team".

In terms of testing: "We have had a positive first taste of the bike and five productive days in Sepang, now we have to look ahead to the Qatar Test and the race". Mir already has experience with this bike: "Last year taught me a lot and I am looking to put everything into practice for this year to help the Repsol Honda Team return to where I know they can be".

 

Marini: "I wore these colours when I rode minibikes"

Marini joins the factory team hthis season and comments: “For me it is an honour to join the Repsol Honda Team, when I was a young child I already had some leathers in their colours for racing minibikes. Now to be here, at the launch, in the leathers and with the bike – it is a dream come true, something from destiny.”

He is struck by the livery: "This bike looks really beautiful, the colours are something very new and I am proud to represent them. We are just at the start of our journey together, but I already feel a part of the team and well supported by the engineers". It is all new for him, but he’s already started getting to know the bike: "I’ve ridden just six days on the bike so we are looking to make the most of the last test and begin the year in the best way possible.”

Heading up the project is HRC general manager, Tetsuhiro Kuwata: “2024 is a special year as we celebrate 30 years collaborating with Repsol and enter a new era with renewable fuels. Inside Honda HRC we have been working very hard in order to deliver a package to both Joan Mir and Luca Marini that they can be competitive on.”