Crimson Bull has sponsored the works Honda workforce for the reason that 2006 season, when it ran Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa.
However the Austrian firm’s logos solely appeared on the bike’s livery in 2015, two years after Marquez made his debut in MotoGP and gained the title in his rookie season.
Crimson Bull’s logos have featured on all of Repsol Honda’s bikes since, however the vitality drink model’s contract with the Japanese maker included a clause that allowed it to interrupt the deal ought to Marquez go away the workforce.
The six-time MotoGP champion introduced final month that he’ll half methods with Honda – with which he had been since his debut within the sequence in 2013 – on the finish of the 2023 season to experience for Ducati on the Gresini workforce.
Following Marquez’s determination, it’s understood that Crimson Bull has communicated to Honda that it’ll finish its partnership this 12 months.
The deal between the drinks firm and Honda not solely stipulated that it might be terminated within the occasion of Honda shedding the Spanish rider, but in addition that the works Honda workforce wouldn’t be allowed to hold any promoting from one other vitality drink model till 2025.
A Honda supply confirmed to Motorsport.com that Crimson Bull would implement the clause releasing it from sponsoring the workforce in 2024, whereas Honda will even be forbidden to hold promoting from any Crimson Bull competitor till the top of subsequent 12 months.
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Crew
Along with Crimson Bull’s departure, which in accordance with studies may turn into a sponsor of the Gresini workforce since it’s Marquez’s private backer, Honda sources stated that the contribution from different companions might be diminished.
For the second, all the things appears to point that Repsol will proceed with Honda for one more 12 months and can fulfil the settlement that hyperlinks the Spanish oil firm till the top of 2024, as stipulated.
Nonetheless, subsequent season might be Repsol’s final as Honda’s principal sponsor after 30 years of uninterrupted partnership.
For Honda, shedding Crimson Bull’s sponsorship and, presumably lowering the contribution from different manufacturers, is not going to imply an insurmountable downside within the brief time period as it can save 20 million euros by not paying Marquez’s wages in 2024.
This determine will compensate for these losses and that’s hoped will assist the short-term improvement of the Tokyo producer’s bike.
