Repsol had already announced for several days with great fanfare the presentation of the official Honda team this morning at the Repsol Campus in Madrid, moving the event to the capital after having previously been organizing in the Puertollano refinery, Ciudad Real. Seen the seen, one did not expect to see any surprise and the attention was mainly focused on his drivers Dani Pedrosa, and Marc Márquez. But, like the design of Motorpasión Moto, that of the Honda RC213V has also changed and, in fact, is the most shocking official decoration of recent seasons.
As I said, before seeing the first photos I did not expect any change. In addition, except for the retro decoration that was marked a few years ago the changes that had suffered had been the subject of great controversy. Recall what they let David Delfin paint on the fairing of one of the most successful teams in the premier class of motorcycling.
Thanks to some innovative soul the team has decided to change the lines of the Honda and this 2013 season will premiere the most beautiful – personally – bike they have had in years. Specifically since 1998, when the white looked proud in the tail and the front. Of course, this back to basics has been made with a tremendous taste for the forms highlighting the more corporate character with the wings – previously almost hidden in the tank – that seem to come out of the chassis of the Japanese prototype.
Personal taste and design apart, the presentation was attended by many personalities such as Alberto Puig, Karlos Arguiñano and Carmelo Ezpeleta. Antonio Brufau (Repsol) and Shuhei Nakamoto (HRC) were in charge of unveiling these new bikes:
Antonio Brufau:
The Repsol Honda team and the MotoGP World Championship are great brand ambassadors, a magnificent showcase to spread the values of Repsol: teamwork, technological innovation and spirit of improvement. Values that fit perfectly with the Campus Repsol philosophy, and that make our headquarters the ideal place for this presentation in society.
Honda is a perfect partner in high competition, a world that allows us to develop our fuels and, ultimately, offer a better service to our customers. We are facing the 2013 season with two exceptional riders and the same illusion of the first day “.
In 2013 we will have a very powerful team again. Dani Pedrosa starts this season after making a fantastic 2012, with more motivation. Marc Márquez is a great talent and I’m sure it will not be long before we see him on the podium. I am very happy for our new structure and everyone at HRC will continue to work hard in the development of the bike, to give the two riders the best chances of victory. ”
And, of course, both drivers made their first statements as top representatives of the team in the season that is falling:
Dani Pedrosa:
I am happy to have been here, on Campus Repsol, and to have presented the bike with the new colors. We had a lot of time with the same design and I think it’s a good time to change. This year’s bike has a fresher touch and that can give us a plus in the races. I hope people like it.
I face the beginning of the preseason with much desire. I am looking forward to arriving in Malaysia and have a few days to test the bike, enjoy it and see which pieces we are going to use in the first race, since in the Valencia tests, after the last World Championship, it was raining and we could not to do a lot”.
Marc Márquez:
I really wanted this moment to come. I am very happy to have already presented the colors that I will take this year in the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP. Seeing the painted motorcycle of Repsol and HRC makes you feel very satisfied with the step you are taking and you realize that it is a dream come true. I’m like a child with new shoes.
Today in the presentation I really enjoyed the good atmosphere that is breathed Campus Repsol and I have seen that MotoGP, media, is light years away from Moto2, but little by little we will adapt. In the end the important thing is what happens on the track, so I’m looking forward to the test in Malaysia. ”
There is still a bit to see them in action in Sepang so betting does not make much sense. Anyway, it gives me in the nose that Marc will be on the lookout for the clueless Yamaha and that Dani Pedrosa will take the title of champion ahead of the Lorenzo-Rossi duo. At least it seems that we will have more competitive drivers than last year, which is easy to overcome …
And do you like the new design? What do you expect from Dani and Marc?
