Honda Racing Corporation has big news, with its effects set to be felt not only across the brand’s duo of contending teams (Repsol Honda and LCR Honda) but into the next season as well. The first big news is the brand has signed on current Red Bull KTM Factory rider Pol Espargaro to the join the Repsol Honda Team on a two-year contract, while the second big news concerns the renewal of the contract for Alex Marquez, until the end of 2022.
Espargaro joining the HRC team is hardly a big surprise, as when KTM announced their 2021 lineup, Espargaro was the notable omission, bringing to an end his four-year relationship with the Austrian factory. The former Moto2 World Champion is among the most experienced riders on the grid, having raced in the World Championship since 2006 and with 104 premier class Grands Prix contested. Espargaro will join eight-time world champion Marc Marquez aboard the Honda RC213V.
Talking about the younger Marquez, the former Moto3 and Moto2 World Champion will race in the premier class aboard his Honda RC213V in the Repsol Honda Team for the 2020 season. In essence, he will have the entire season to gain experience and make progress on HRC’s long term project, before the 24-year old Spanish rider joins the LCR Honda Team for the 2021 season.
Speaking about the renewal of his contract, Marquez said,”I am very proud to announce my renewal with Honda Racing Corporation. HRC gave me the opportunity to arrive in MotoGP and I am glad to join the LCR Honda Team at the end of 2020 and compete in a big team with great experience in MotoGP. I want to thank HRC and the LCR Honda Team for their trust in me to be able to continue in the Honda family and I will work hard to prove their confidence with results. Now, I am eager to start the season in Jerez and I am completely focused to give my best this year. “