MotoGP 2027: Honda sends Mir to test 850cc bike despite Ducati switch

• Joan Mir and Luca Marini are set to test Honda’s new 850cc RC214V on June 22 in Brno
• Pol Espargaro makes his comeback at a private KTM test in Misano after a hand injury
• From 2027, 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, no ride-height devices and Pirelli tires will apply

MotoGP is facing its biggest technical upheaval in years, and the transition to the new regulatory era from 2027 is already producing unusual personnel decisions. While KTM is using a private test in Misano this week to further develop the 850cc prototype, Honda is raising eyebrows with its choice of test riders for the upcoming Brno test. Both threads converge on the same date: the first official outing of the 2027 machines with current factory riders on the Monday after the Czech Grand Prix.

Why is Honda letting Joan Mir test the new 850cc bike?

Honda is banking on feedback from its current factory riders and accepting an unprecedented arrangement in the process. According to media reports, Joan Mir is set to ride the new RC214V at the official test day after the Czech GP in Brno, even though the Spaniard is leaving the manufacturer at the end of the season to join Ducati’s satellite team Gresini in 2027. This is considered remarkable, as it was previously virtually unheard of for a rider switching to a competitor to be granted access to a development project for the next generation of motorcycles. Honda reportedly justified the decision with the words “We gain more than we lose.” The manufacturer evidently values the benefit of Mir’s experience and technical feedback more highly than the risk of passing development information to a future competitor.

Who will ride the RC214V in Brno?

Alongside Joan Mir, Luca Marini is also expected to participate in the Brno test, though his future beyond the current season remains open. Honda is thus relying on its current factory rider duo to gather as much feedback as possible on the new motorcycle. Although Honda already has Diogo Moreira under contract for 2027, the young Brazilian is currently not scheduled for the test. The reason is the limit of just two 850cc prototypes per manufacturer during these test sessions.

Injuries force Honda to rethink

A key reason for the unusual decision is the strained personnel situation. Test rider Aleix Espargaro remains sidelined due to injury, leaving the manufacturer with practically only Takaaki Nakagami as an experienced development rider for the work on the RC214V. Johann Zarco is also currently unable to contribute actively to development. The Frenchman was injured in mid-May in Barcelona and continues to be replaced at LCR by Cal Crutchlow, whose stint has been extended through the Grands Prix in Brno and Assen. A specific date for Zarco’s return has not been set. The project’s significance for Honda is enormous nonetheless, as the new machine is intended to form the foundation for competing for the World Championship title again, with Fabio Quartararo among others.

KTM brings Pol Espargaro back in Misano

Parallel to Honda’s plans, KTM is using a private two-day test on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Misano World Circuit to advance its own 850cc prototype. The two test riders on the motorcycle are Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro, with Espargaro’s return being the main focus. The 35-year-old is sitting on a prototype at an official MotoGP test for the first time since injuring his left hand in mid-April during a dirt-track training session near his hometown of Granollers. The injury turned out to be relatively minor, but it had noticeable consequences for KTM: Espargaro was unavailable as a replacement rider and could not stand in for the injured Maverick Vinales at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans. Instead, Jonas Folger stepped in before Vinales returned at the Catalunya Grand Prix.

What does Espargaro’s comeback mean for KTM?

With the test in Misano, Espargaro returns to his core role. Together with Dani Pedrosa, he is one of the most important development riders in the KTM program and is expected to deliver crucial feedback for the motorcycle that the manufacturer is preparing for the new regulatory era. The conditions are considered favorable. After the World Superbike Championship raced on the 4.2-kilometer circuit on the Adriatic coast last weekend, there is plenty of rubber on the asphalt. Sunny conditions and around 27 degrees Celsius are expected on Tuesday, with the thermometer set to climb to around 30 degrees on Wednesday, with no risk of rain. The bikes will run on Pirelli tires, which will replace Michelin as the sole tire supplier from 2027. If the test goes according to plan, Espargaro could also be on the 850cc machine at the Brno test on Monday.

What changes with the MotoGP 2027 regulations?

From 2027, the premier class will use only 850 cubic centimeter engines instead of the current 1000cc powerplants. At the same time, aerodynamics will be restricted, the so-called ride-height devices will be eliminated, and Pirelli will take over from Michelin as the sole tire supplier. This combination of changes marks the beginning of a new era and makes early test kilometers particularly valuable. The test in Brno is the first official outing of the new machines under conditions that already largely correspond to the future regulations. Pirelli MotoGP Director Giorgio Barbier also attaches great importance to the feedback from factory riders and emphasizes that this feedback will play a central role in the final development of the tires for 2027.

Which riders are already allowed to test the new machines?

Not all top riders will gain early access to the 2027 prototypes. Numerous current top stars are not permitted to test the new motorcycles for the time being, including Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini and Ai Ogura, all of whom are facing manufacturer changes. For 2027, only a few riders have confirmed contracts so far. These include Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer at Ducati, Marco Bezzecchi at Aprilia, Toprak Razgatlioglu at Yamaha, and Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco at Honda. At the Brno test, all five manufacturers are expected to field a maximum of two riders per brand, with current factory riders being allowed to ride the 2027 machinery for the first time. KTM was the first manufacturer to release footage of its 850cc machine when Espargaro took the prototype around Jerez in December. Honda, Ducati and Aprilia have also tested their new machines, while Yamaha is reported to have done so behind closed doors.

What comes after the Brno test?

After the opening round in Brno, the development program will continue, with the next test using the 2027 prototypes scheduled for the Monday after the Austrian Grand Prix. Another important date follows on December 1 in Valencia immediately after the season finale. In Valencia, all MotoGP riders will finally be allowed to test the new-generation machines without restrictions, each with their future teams. This means that the head start for those riders who are already permitted to test in Brno and Spielberg could prove to be a decisive factor for the start of the new MotoGP era.

Frequently Asked Questions