Repsol Honda holds 2022 MotoGP launch with Marquez, Espargaro

Ahead of this weekend's Mandalika test, Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro have officially presented their 2022 Repsol Honda colours in a virtual launch.

While the Repsol livery is well known, Honda has made substantial changes to almost every area of the RC213V in search of its first title since Marquez's 2020 arm injury.

“I think it is the biggest change we have seen during the current regulation period," confirmed HRC director Tetsuhiro Kuwata. "The concept of the 2022 machine is ‘break out of our shell’ to improve the performance so the whole of the machine is completely different from the last two years.

"We changed the engine, chassis, and the electronics with this concept. We already applied this new concept from the last year, and we have already checked the performance of the new machine concept and we could confirm that it works to improve our weak points. So, this 2022 machine has further evolutions with the same direction.

“Our target is always the same: winning the championship. But with this championship we always try to get first and second, that is our target with Honda riders.”

After missing almost all of the 2020 season due to the arm complications, Marquez joined the 2021 world championship at round 3. The Spaniard broke Honda's win drought with an emotional Sachsenring victory, later scoring more points than any other rider in the four races from Aragon to Misano 2.

But shortly after sealing his third win of the year in Italy, where he was joined on the rostrum by Espargaro, Marquez fell from an Enduro bike and triggered a repeat of his 2011 double vision problems.

"Without the [injuries] Marc would have won the title these last two years," said team manager Alberto Puig.

After missing the final two races of last season, plus November's Jerez test, Marquez made his return to MotoGP action at Sepang last week.

Although he experienced no further eye issues after two small falls, the #93 is lacking general fitness. However he said "the speed is there" after finishing with the eighth best lap time, just 0.2s from the top.

"My goal this year is to fight for the world championship," Marquez emphasised at the team launch.

The new RCV has been designed to deliver greater rear grip on corner entry, requiring a change of riding style.

It's an especially welcome change for Espargaro, who had to heavily adapt his riding style last season and finished just twelfth in the standings, with Misano his only rostrum.

"The  bike we have now is more in-line with the other bikes. The beginning point is great and from Qatar on I feel we will be ready to fight for something great," Espargaro said.

The Spaniard, who had been fifth in the world championship during his final KTM season, was tenth at the Sepang test, but just 0.088s slower than Marquez.

While Marquez has signed with Honda until the end of 2024, Espargaro - like most of the MotoGP field - is out of contract at the end of this season.