- Brivio joins Honda HRC as advisor in 2027
- Alberto Puig remains team manager but his role will change
- Honda restructures its MotoGP project with Japanese leadership and European expertise
The news broke on Saturday during the French Grand Prix at Le Mans: Davide Brivio will leave the Trackhouse Aprilia team at the end of the current season and join Honda Racing Corporation’s (HRC) leadership structure in 2027. Sky Sport Italy first reported the move, which was subsequently confirmed by Motorsport.com. None of the parties involved have officially commented so far.
What Role Will Davide Brivio Take at Honda?
Brivio will not assume the position of team manager at HRC. Instead, he is set to take on a senior advisory role focused on strategic vision and overall organizational structure. According to the Sky report by journalist Rosario Triolo, Brivio will step away from direct operational work at the track and concentrate on the long-term direction of the MotoGP project. This includes the organization of the test team, the flow of information between track and factory, and the fundamental setup of racing operations.
Alberto Puig, Honda’s team manager since 2018, will remain within the structure. While his contract expires at the end of the current season, it is expected to be extended. However, Puig’s responsibilities are likely to change: he is set to focus more on working with the riders and serving as the link between the pilots and the factory. This would create a division of labor where Brivio handles the overarching strategic planning while Puig manages the operational rider support.
Why Did Honda Choose Brivio of All People?
The decision to bring in Brivio follows a clear logic. The 61-year-old Italian boasts one of the most impressive careers in MotoGP management. In the early 2000s, he played a key role at Yamaha in building the team around Valentino Rossi and later Jorge Lorenzo. Under his leadership, Yamaha wrested several world championship titles from Honda’s grasp. He was subsequently instrumental in Suzuki’s factory team return to MotoGP in 2015. The pinnacle of his time at Suzuki came in 2020 with Joan Mir’s surprise championship title, achieved with a comparatively small budget and a methodical approach.
The Suzuki parallel is particularly relevant for Honda. The former Suzuki project resembled HRC’s current situation: a manufacturer with a big name but no results on track. Honda has gone three seasons without a race win and is searching for a path back to the top. Brivio has proven that he can forge success from difficult starting positions, and that is exactly what Honda apparently expects from him.
After the title win with Suzuki, Brivio made a surprise move to Formula 1 with Alpine in 2021. There, he started as racing director, subsequently took on various roles within the organization, and left the team at the end of 2023. In the spring of 2024, he returned to MotoGP as team principal of the newly founded Trackhouse team.
What Does the Move Mean for Trackhouse?
For Justin Marks’ American team, the departure is a significant blow. Trackhouse had only taken over the RNF structure at the end of 2023 and had established itself under Brivio’s leadership. Last season, the team celebrated its first MotoGP victory with Raul Fernandez at Phillip Island.
The timing is doubly unfortunate for Trackhouse: just a few weeks earlier, Ai Ogura had announced his move to Yamaha for 2027. This means the Aprilia satellite team loses both its team principal and one of its riders within a short period. The rider lineup for 2027 is currently still open. Franco Morbidelli has most recently been mentioned as a possible replacement for Ogura. Whether Brivio’s departure will influence these negotiations remains unclear.
How Is Honda Restructuring Its MotoGP Project?
Brivio’s appointment is just one piece in a comprehensive restructuring that Honda has been driving for several years. Back in 2024, then HRC managing director Tetsuhiro Kuwata was replaced by Taichi Honda, who came from the company’s off-road division. For the 2025 season, Honda recruited former Aprilia technical director Romano Albesiano as technical director for the MotoGP project.
In early 2026, Hikaru Tsukamoto, the former president of the research and development division who had direct influence on the MotoGP program and the entire motorcycle division, was reassigned. Tsukamoto was transferred to China. At the season opener in Buriram (Thailand), he said farewell to the paddock staff.
A notable change concerns the internal power distribution: Japanese managers have taken on a significantly more active role in recent months compared to previous years. The signing of Fabio Quartararo, who is earmarked as the number one rider at Honda from 2027, was negotiated directly by Taichi Honda. The decision to extend Johann Zarco’s contract by two more years through the end of 2027 also came from the Japanese leadership group. The latter decision raised some eyebrows in the paddock.
What Does Honda’s 2027 Rider Lineup Look Like?
Although the official confirmation of most rider contracts is still pending because negotiations between the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group as series promoter and the manufacturers and teams are still ongoing, the picture is already becoming clear. Quartararo has a secured seat in HRC’s factory team garage. David Alonso is designated as his teammate, having already signed a pre-contract. Zarco and Diogo Moreira are set to continue riding for the LCR satellite team.
Current Honda factory riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini have contracts expiring at the end of the 2026 season. There are no signs of a continuation in the factory team for either of them.
Will Honda Field Six Motorcycles in 2027?
In recent weeks, there has been intense speculation about whether Honda might expand its 2027 MotoGP lineup to six motorcycles and enter into a collaboration with the French Tech3 team. However, following the latest discussions at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, this option now appears significantly less likely. Currently, all signs point to Tech3 remaining with KTM under the leadership of Günther Steiner.
What Makes This Move So Significant?
The irony of the personnel decision is unmistakable: the man who took titles away from Honda for years at Yamaha and Suzuki is now supposed to pave the way back to success for the Japanese manufacturer. At HRC, Brivio will encounter decisions that have already been made without him. The rider lineup is essentially set, and the technical development direction for the upcoming 850cc era from 2027 has also been defined.
Honda appears to have recognized that its previously rather hierarchical organizational structure no longer meets the demands of modern MotoGP competition. The combination of Japanese leadership expertise and European management experience that Brivio brings is intended to bridge the gap. Whether this approach will work remains to be seen. The new 2027 regulations offer all manufacturers a chance for a fresh start, and Honda wants to seize this opportunity with a fundamentally changed setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When is Davide Brivio joining Honda?
Brivio is set to join Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) from the 2027 MotoGP season. He will leave the Trackhouse Aprilia team at the end of the current 2026 season.
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What role will Davide Brivio have at Honda HRC?
Brivio will take on a senior advisory role focused on strategic vision and overall organizational structure. He will not be team manager — that position remains with Alberto Puig.
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Who will ride for the Honda factory team in 2027?
Fabio Quartararo has a secured seat as the number one rider. David Alonso is designated as his teammate, having already signed a pre-contract.
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What happens to Trackhouse after Brivio’s departure?
In addition to Brivio, Trackhouse is also losing rider Ai Ogura, who is moving to Yamaha. The rider lineup for 2027 is still open, with Franco Morbidelli mentioned as a possible addition.
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Will Alberto Puig remain team manager at Honda?
Puig’s contract expires at the end of 2026 but is expected to be extended. His role will likely shift toward a greater focus on rider management, serving as the link between pilots and the factory.
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