Repsol Factory Honda team today unveiled the new look Honda RC213V race bike and livery for the 2013 MotoGP season. Team riders Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez revealed the new look bike and colour scheme.
This is the 19th year of partnership between Honda and Repsol and the team is raring to bring home the title for the year 2013. An addition to the team this year is the Moto2 Champion Marc Márquez. The first tests for this season will commence in Malaysia on February 5 – 7.
Here are some quotes from key team members from the unveiling ceremony. Do let us know what you think about the new livery via comments.
Dani Pedrosa
I am very happy to have been here at Campus Repsol today, and to have been the one unveiling the bike and its new livery. We had run with the old design for a long time and I think that now is a good moment for a change. This year’s bike has a fresh touch to it, which can give us a boost at the races. I hope the fans like it too. I’m starting this preseason really keen, as at the Valencia test after the last race of 2012 we had so much rain that we couldn’t do much. I can’t wait to get to Malaysia and have a few days to put the bike through its paces, enjoy myself and see which parts we are going to use for the opening race.
Marc Márquez
I have really been looking forward to this moment. I am very happy to have presented the new colour scheme for my move up from Moto2 to MotoGP. Seeing the bike painted with the Repsol and HRC logos makes you feel very satisfied with this new step forward —it makes you realise what a dream-come-true it is. I’m like a kid with new shoes! I enjoyed the atmosphere of the presentation a lot, and I was able to see that the press attention for MotoGP is light years ahead of that for Moto2. We’ll adapt to this, little-by-little. In the end, the important thing is what happens on the track, so I can’t wait for the Malaysia tests to start. I think that it was a very positive initiative to broadcast the presentation online, because I’m sure lots of fans would have liked to have attended t his event. I hope that they enjoyed it a lot.
Shuhei Nakamoto HRC Executive Vice-President
In 2013 we will again have a very strong team – Dani comes into this season after a fantastic 2012 and with new motivation, Marc is a great talent and I’m sure it won’t be long before we see him on the podium. I am excited about the new structure and everyone at HRC will continue to work hard in the bike’s development to give both our riders the best chance of victory.
Livio Suppo – Team Principal
I’d like to thank HRC for their trust in me. I will do my best to merit my new role and hope to assist in the Team’s success. I know that we can count on two very strong riders, a formidable machine, a great international crew and the great support of Repsol and all our sponsors. Together we will all do our best to keep the Repsol Honda Team at the top of MotoGP.
Hideki Iwano – Team Director
“I am very happy to be working with the Repsol Honda Team again this year. I am confident that Dani will maintain his good momentum from 2012 and will fight hard for the title once again this season. Marc is a rookie in the MotoGP class but I am sure he will demonstrate his remarkable talent to us this season. As Team Director of the Repsol Honda Team, it is my job to provide an environment in which everyone can maximise their ability”.
Takeo Yokoyama – Technical Director
“I’ve been in the Honda family since 1996 and have learned a great deal. I have spent a lot of time working closely with Dani in the past few years and also with Shinichi Kokubu, who taught me a lot. I am very grateful to Honda Racing Corporation for giving me this opportunity, I am excited for what the future holds and hope that in 2013 we can recapture the Rider’s Championship!”