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Repsol, a globally recognized lubricant producer, is set to re-enter the world of MotoGP in 2026, marking a significant milestone after a brief hiatus. The company will assume the role of official lubricant supplier for both the Moto2 and Moto3 categories, alongside securing title sponsorship for a Grand Prix event and prominent trackside advertising throughout the 2026 season. This announcement follows reports of their anticipated return after parting ways with the factory Honda team in 2024, concluding a successful nearly three-decade collaboration.

Repsol's Grand Return: A New Era for Motorsport Lubrication and Sponsorship

In a strategic move confirmed by MotoGP, Repsol, the Spanish energy and petrochemical company, will make its highly anticipated comeback to the premier motorcycle racing series in 2026. This return sees Repsol taking on a multifaceted role, primarily as the official lubricant supplier for the intermediate Moto2 and Moto3 classes. Additionally, the brand will elevate its presence through a coveted title sponsorship of a Grand Prix race and extensive trackside branding across the 2026 calendar. This development comes after an earlier report by Autosport hinted at Repsol's return, following their decision to end a 29-year-long, highly successful alliance with the Honda factory team at the close of the 2024 season. During their partnership with Honda, Repsol was synonymous with excellence, achieving an impressive 15 world titles. However, the move of star rider Marc Marquez to Gresini Ducati had already diminished some of their visibility, prompting this new strategic direction. Dan Rossomondo, the chief commercial officer for Dorna, MotoGP's rights holder, expressed enthusiasm about Repsol's return, highlighting the brand's reputation for quality and success within the sport. He emphasized that the partnership will ensure top-tier lubricant technology for Moto2 and Moto3 teams and riders, further solidifying Repsol's commitment to innovation. Clara Velasco, a director at Repsol, echoed this sentiment, stating that the new collaboration with MotoGP is a crucial step in their global growth strategy. She underscored their eagerness to demonstrate the superior quality and performance of their lubricants in the challenging environment of motorcycle racing and to continuously innovate for their customers.

Repsol's strategic reentry into MotoGP signifies a forward-thinking approach to brand visibility and technological advancement. By focusing on Moto2 and Moto3, Repsol is not only investing in the future talent of the sport but also reinforcing its commitment to developing cutting-edge lubricant technology under extreme racing conditions. This move will undoubtedly benefit the younger categories with enhanced performance products, while also ensuring Repsol maintains a strong, visible presence in the global motorsport arena.

Following the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Fernando Alonso, the seasoned Aston Martin driver, offered a candid assessment of his team's performance, suggesting their car currently ranks as the ninth fastest on the grid. This evaluation came after a weekend where initial flashes of speed were ultimately overshadowed by what he perceived as underlying limitations.

Alonso's initial pronouncements after the sprint qualifying session placed Aston Martin as the eighth fastest, a viewpoint he revised downwards after the main event. He attributed the seemingly better performances during earlier sessions to the disruptive nature of sprint weekends and the specific tire compounds used, which momentarily masked the car's true capabilities. The implementation of a new hard tire compound by Pirelli, for instance, saw most teams experimenting with it only during practice, highlighting its slower characteristics compared to the medium compound.

During the sprint race and qualifying, Alonso noted, \"It's a sprint weekend so there is a little bit of a mix and the people getting used to some things, rookies as well \u2013 they need to learn the track. So, I don't know, in all our metrics we are the eighth-fastest team... So, happy in that regard but I don't think that this is a particularly good weekend for the Aston.\" However, his sentiment shifted after the Grand Prix, where he finished 10th.

Post-race, Alonso reiterated his concerns about the car's performance over longer distances. He observed, \"We were slow compared to the cars in front of us and we were holding the Racing Bull [of Liam Lawson] behind us. They were within one second of us the whole race, so that means they had more pace than us.\" He further emphasized the disparity between their qualifying speed and race pace, stating a clear need for improvement in the remaining races of the season.

The race itself saw Alonso lose two positions at the start, though he managed to regain them due to incidents involving other drivers. Despite managing to hold off Liam Lawson for much of the race, the gap between them remained consistently narrow, underscoring the challenge Aston Martin faced in maintaining competitive speed. Alonso's revised ranking of his team's car to ninth-fastest, behind teams like Haas and Sauber, reflected this reality, noting that only Alpine seemed to be struggling more.

Team principal Mike Krack, while acknowledging Alonso's perspective, offered a more nuanced view. He pointed out the varied tire strategies employed by different teams during the race, with some starting on softs, others on hards, and most on mediums. Krack stressed the importance of a comprehensive post-race analysis, taking into account factors like traffic and DRS usage, before definitively concluding on their car's true standing. He admitted that the car's performance varies across circuits, highlighting specific track characteristics that either suit or hinder their package. The team's immediate focus remains on maximizing performance and securing points in the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix and beyond.