The MotoGP world got a little dimmer earlier this year, as Repsol, the brand that made Honda's motorcycles famous the world over, stated it'd be leaving the sport after decades of sponsorship. For those new to the sport, think of it as if Red Bull suddenly left Formula 1. It was a blow to everyone, and especially a blow to Honda's legacy.
Though Honda's since brought in Castrol as its title sponsor, Repsol's been quiet and, honestly, we all thought that the brand would be done with racing after its exit stage left. Apparently, we were wrong, as even though it's only been a year since quitting its Honda partnership, Repsol is back sponsoring two-wheeled racing.
Interestingly, though, it isn't in the MotoGP premier class. Rather, starting in 2026, Repsol will be the official lubricant supplier of both Moto2 and Moto3. It's nice to have them back, but I have to wonder whether the company is hoping to get back to MotoGP soon, too?
According to our siblings over at Motorsport, Dorna—the folks who govern MotoGP for now—have agreed to a partnership with Repsol to become the official lubricant for the Moto2 and Moto3 championships, as the previous partner, Liqui Moly, have agreed to terminate the partnership two year earlier than orginally planned. As to why they've separated, that's still unclear.
Recapping the history of the brand's partnership with the series, Motorsport stated, "Repsol confirmed its departure more than three months later, issuing a brief statement during the San Marino Grand Prix — a low-profile end to what had been the most enduring and successful sponsorship in the series' history. By the 2024 season, the partnership had already lost visibility following Marc Marquez’s move to Gresini."
It added, "However, it now appears that Repsol’s absence from the paddock will be short-lived. The brand is expected to return to the championship in 2026, though not alongside Honda — which quickly partnered with Castrol to cover its fuel and lubricant needs — and not in MotoGP itself. Instead, Repsol will take on a global role as the sole lubricant supplier for the intermediate and lightweight categories."
It's an interesting turn of events, honestly, as it seems like a step backward to me. Now, I don't know the terms of the deal, nor how much the partnership will cost Repsol, but you'd have to think that becoming the official lubricant partner for both junior series' would be more expensive than being partnered with the likes of Honda in the premier class. But maybe it's not?
Whatever the case may be, Repsol is back in two-wheeled racing thanks to this, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the company back in MotoGP sooner rather than later. Especially with all the eyes on the brand thanks to the Liberty Media deal.
