Honda has become the latest MotoGP organisation to sign a five-year contract extension to remain in the class through at least 2026.
The Japanese marque is the fourth premier class entity to pledge its alliance to the top level of grand prix motorcycle racing in recent weeks, following KTM and Ducati within the last month, while private team LCR Honda announced it had signed a similar five-year deal last week.
Honda Managing Officer of motorcycle operations Noriaki Abe says the ability to “nurture” Honda’s engineers “through fierce competition” is one of the key reasons for its continued MotoGP stay, helping its road division to create “better products to its customers” by developing new technologies through the racing programme.
“Honda has been competing in the FIM Grand Prix World Championship since 1959, and won its 800th grand prix last year,” said Abe on Honda’s new fresh deal to remain a part of MotoGP for a further five seasons.
“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.
“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.”
Honda heads into the upcoming 2021 MotoGP campaign as the most successful manufacturer across the history of the premier class, the brand having racked up a grand total of 850 podium finishes and 20 rider championship titles.
It has only failed to win two riders crowns in the last eight years thanks to the efforts of Marc Marquez, the Spaniard losing out to Jorge Lorenzo’s Yamaha in ’15 while injury meant he was forced to miss pretty much of all last year, allowing Joan Mir to capture Suzuki’s first world title in two decades.
Pol Espargaro is set to make his Honda debut in Qatar next month following the Spaniards defection from KTM to replace Marc’s brother Alex, who switches to the satellite LCR team as the outgoing Cal Crutchlow’s replacement alongside Takaaki Nakagami on a pair of factory spec RC213-V’s.
Marc is targeting a return to racing action this year as his broken right arm continues to heal, although as it stands he looks set to miss the start of the year thanks to the lengthy recovery time of the bone graft he underwent in his previous surgical procedure at the start of December last year.
Honda test rider Stefan Bradl as well as axed Ducati MotoGP racer Andrea Dovizioso are the two men most likely to replace Marquez in the opening races should his return not come to fruition, though the former looks more likely thanks to the German completing most of the ’20 season as the six-time MotoGP champions stand-in.
