Honda unveils all-new 2025 MotoGP livery after Repsol exit

New colours for Honda in 2025 after split with Repsol

Honda has adopted a new colour scheme for the 2025 MotoGP season following the departure of long-time sponsor Repsol.

Luca Marini and 2020 champion Joan Mir will sport a red, white and blue livery on their factory Honda RC213Vs this year, representing the corporate colours of HRC.

The new paint job was revealed to the public in Jakarta on Saturday, with Honda describing the launch as the start of a new era for the brand in MotoGP.

On the occasion, the Japanese manufacturer also announced Castrol as a new sponsor to fill the gap left by Repsol, a deal that was first reported by Motorsport.com in October. The team will subsequently be rebranded as Honda HRC Castrol in 2025.

The British brand has already been a major partner for its satellite team LCR since 2016. Castrol and Honda first forged a partnership for the Japanese manufacturer’s debut at the Isle of Man TT in 1959.

For 30 years, the factory HRC team operated under the Repsol Honda banner, with its all-orange design becoming one of the most recognisable liveries in motorcycle racing’s history. Mick Doohan, Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez all won championships with the famous Repsol colour, further cementing its iconic status in MotoGP.

Joan Mir, Honda HRC

Photo by: Honda Racing

But amid the team’s slump in form and the loss of Marquez, the Spanish oil giant had already reduced its financial contribution in 2024, with Honda consequently switching to a hybrid livery.

Following the San Marino Grand Prix in September last year, the Spanish oil giant announced that it was ending its relationship with Honda altogether after the 2024 season.

With Repsol out, Honda is promoting its own racing department in 2025, in a variant of the design already seen on its bikes in the World Superbike Championship.

The most successful marque in premier class history is also aiming to bounce back after its worst season in recent history, aided by the new concession system.

Along with Yamaha, it will get extensive freedom to test the bike this year with its race riders, including at the on-going shakedown in Sepang.

Further advantages include the ability to introduce more updates during the season, including new engines.

Luca Marini, Honda HRC

Photo by: Honda Racing

Honda has managed to retain its star rider Mir this year, while Marini also stays on as part of a two-year contract he signed prior to the 2024 season.

Mir finished 21st in the standings last year, while ex-VR46 Ducati rider Marini ended up 22nd and last among the full-season riders after a difficult start to his time at Honda.

HRC ended up at the bottom of the teams’ standings, even behind its satellite team LCR, while Honda was again the lowest-scoring manufacturer with just 75 points on the board.

LCR is now the only team remaining to revealed its 2025 bike, having scheduled its launch on 8 February.