Javier Sanchez

Updated Tuesday, February 13, 2024-19:39

  • Analysis Márquez and his impossible return to the past: "Those who say that I am going to destroy them should forget"

Joy must return to Repsol Honda. For MotoGP, which needs celebrations in the most successful team in its history. For its drivers,

Joan Mir

and

Luca Marini

, a world champion and talent to exploit. And, of course, for the two brands, Repsol and Honda, which have been together for 30 years, 30 years investing in the World Cup and today they are also going through their worst streak together. Two complete seasons without victories, never experienced before. Will it change in 2024? Apparently, it's probable.

This Tuesday the team presented its new RC213V in Madrid and surprised with its design. Years after the aerodynamic revolution that Ducati promoted, the Honda dressed itself in spoilers, curvatures and corners to compete for that top speed and, at the same time, be more friendly. With the departure of

Marc Márquez,

the discussion between managers and drivers to define an evolution to follow ended and everyone seems to be moving towards one. It is the way.

"We all want to move this boat forward no matter what, they are working very hard on the new bike, trying a lot of things. I enjoyed riding it and it feels good to start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and we hope to continue improving," commented Joan Mir who, in The recent pre-season tests in Sepang saw the light. His time was better than last year's pole at the Malaysian Grand Prix and he was in the Top 10 overall in practice. The beginning of the comeback.

Pecco Bagnaia

or

Jorge Martín

were more than half a second faster, but there is the whole season ahead. In addition, the 2020 champion already feels like the leader of the team, the reference for engineers and mechanics. Marquez? Who is Marquez?

The beginning of renewable fuels

"I haven't thought about him all year. It's more what happens outside the team. Here we only talk about getting back to the top. Whoever has been in the last few years is left out. With him or without him there is "We have to go for it," said Mir, who has inherited Márquez's technical structure with

Santi Hernández

at the helm.

The new RC213V also surprised by its new colors, with blue and more red, by the absence of Red Bull as a sponsor and by a message from Repsol, Honda's main sponsor: "Renewable fuels." In 2024, MotoGP will kick off a new era of carbon-free fuels. Motorcycles must use a fuel that has at least 40% of components of renewable origin and Repsol has proposed to lead that change.

It could be another help for Repsol Honda in search of a comeback. "This is not just any season. In MotoGP we have the challenge of creating, together with Honda, the best renewable engine-fuel combination," said

Marcos Fraga

, Repsol brand director at the team's presentation. Indeed, it is not just any season. Joy must return to Repsol Honda.