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Cape Town - With the new MotoGP season just 40 days away, another major team has unveiled its 2017 challengers - Honda.
Five-time world champion and the current MotoGP champ Marc Marquez with team mate Dani Pedrosa unveiled their 2017 MotoGP bikes with Repsol Honda at an event in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Chasing the title
The team presentation follows those of Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki in January. Marquez will be chasing his fourth MotoGP title in 2017, while Pedrosa has yet to win a championship.
A second test was held in Sepang earlier in Februar. Malaysia saw a repeat of the first test in Valencia, where Maverick Vinales finished the day in the top spot and Marquez came in second place.
WATCH: Yamaha revealed its 2017 YZR M1
Pedrosa improved on his time in Valencia, and finished in fourth (finished fifth in Valencia) ahead of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.
Marquez said: “I’ve come to Indonesia many times already, and I know how much they love MotoGP.”
The team visited the factories where the bikes are made and Marquez spoke of the amazing experience.
Read: MotoGP - Marc Marquez claims world crown in Japan
The champ added: “They (supporters) were incredibly supportive and passionate. We’ll do our best to give them a reason to celebrate. We’ve started our winter tests well enough, and now we all must keep working and take more steps forward to be prepared to fight at the top again.”
Pedrosa has been with Honda for the past 12 years has yet to win a championship. Last year he was forced to sit out a few races after crashing and injuring himself at the Japanese GP in Motegi.
He said: “Today we officially launch our 2017 season, which is always an exciting moment, even when you’ve already lived it many times. I feel good and I’m really looking forward to starting the new racing year.”
The next official pre-season MotoGP tests will held at Phillip Island in Australia from February 15-17..
Watch Repsol Honda's bike reveal below: