P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Honda calls MotoGP concession change “logical next step on our return to the top”, Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami’s roles “even more critical in 2026”.
Honda’s climb up the concessions ladder for 2026 is seen as the logical next step on their return to the top of MotoGP, as stated by HRC’s MotoGP technical manager, Mikihiko Kawase.
Despite Honda’s past success in MotoGP with ten riders’ titles, their performance declined significantly after Marc Marquez’s injuries in 2020, with only five race wins since then.
The departure of Marquez in 2024 led to Honda’s slump deepening, resulting in a last-place finish in the constructors’ standings and losing their title sponsor Repsol.
Using MotoGP’s revised concession system, Honda managed to improve their performance, surpassing Yamaha in the constructors’ standings and reaching a point threshold to move up a category.
The focus for 2026 will be on leveraging the test team, led by Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami, as well as balancing resources between developing the 2026 machine and the new 850cc machine for 2027.
With the aim of consistently fighting for top-five finishes and podiums, Honda is actively working on further refining and enhancing the performance of the Honda RC213V for the final year of the 1,000cc era in 2026.
