The latest episode of the Paddock Pass Podcast was recorded shortly after the sad news of Fausto Gresini's death was made public, and so the first thing Steve English, Neil Morrison, Adam Wheeler, and David Emmett do is pay tribute to the former 125 world champion and team manager. We take a brief look at his history in the Grand Prix racing, and what he meant for the sport. If you would like to get a fuller picture of the man, there is also this obituary by Mat Oxley on Motor Sport Magazine.

From there, we turn our attention to the Honda launches which happened this week. The big news was of course the Repsol Honda launch, the first time the media got to speak to Marc Marquez since he was forced to withdraw from the Jerez 2 round back in July 2020. We assess what he told us, how he views injury, and whether he will be a force to reckon within 2021.

We also look at the other side of the garage, and ask how Pol Espargaro will get on in the Repsol Honda squad. We discuss the LCR Honda launches, debate the merits of the various liveries, and argue over whether Alex Marquez will finish ahead or behind Pol Espargaro in the championship standings. We ask whether Takaaki Nakagami's objective to fight for podiums and wins is realistic. And we answer some questions from Patreon supporters.

If you don't want to miss out on these episodes as they are released, make sure you follow The Paddock Pass Podcast on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Soundcloud we even have an RSS feed for you. If you do use Apple Podcasts, please rate the show and leave a review, as this helps other MotoGP fans find it. We now also have a Patreon, where you can support the show financially, and get access to exclusive content, such as rider interviews, debriefs, and more. Enjoy the show!