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

• Brno test on June 22: Honda puts Joan Mir and Luca Marini on the new 850cc RC214V
• KTM brings Pol Espargaro back after his hand injury for a private test at Misano
• 2027 brings 850cc engines, less aerodynamics, no ride-height devices and Pirelli as tire supplier

On the Monday after the Czech Grand Prix, regular MotoGP riders will be allowed to ride the 2027 bikes for the first time. Honda is sending a rider out on the new 850cc machine who is moving to Ducati at the end of the season. At the same time, KTM is preparing with a private test at Misano, where a well-known test rider is making his return. For all manufacturers, this marks the start of the crucial phase before the new regulations.

Who is testing the new Honda RC214V in Brno?

For the June 22 test in Brno, Honda is putting its two current factory riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini, on the RC214V. This is the prototype the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) is building for the new rules from 2027. Diogo Moreira, whom Honda has already signed for 2027, is not part of the plan as things stand. The reason is a rule for these tests: each manufacturer may only run two 850cc bikes on track. Marini’s future beyond this season is still open.

Why is Joan Mir allowed to ride the new Honda despite his move to Gresini?

Honda expects to gain more than it loses from Mir’s feedback. A rider who has already signed with another manufacturer being allowed to test the next-generation bike has never happened before in the MotoGP era. Mir will ride for Ducati customer team Gresini in 2027. The test plan became known through a report by Motorsport.com, which quotes Honda as saying: “We gain more than we lose.” One important reason is a shortage of test riders. Aleix Espargaro, HRC’s regular test rider, is still out with back injuries after a testing crash at Sepang. That leaves Takaaki Nakagami as the only experienced rider for developing the RC214V. Johann Zarco, who has already signed with Honda for 2027, cannot help at the moment either. He was injured in Barcelona in mid-May. Cal Crutchlow continues to stand in for him at LCR, including at Brno and Assen. When Zarco will return is open. A lot rides on the new bike for Honda, as it is meant to allow Fabio Quartararo to fight for the title in the future.

What is different at the MotoGP test for 2027?

In Brno, the bikes already run largely to the 2027 rules. Instead of 1000cc, the engines displace only 850cc, the aerodynamics are significantly cut back and ride-height devices are gone. These systems lower the bike under acceleration and will be banned from 2027. There is also a change of tires: Pirelli takes over from Michelin as the sole supplier. All five manufacturers are expected in Brno, with a maximum of two riders per brand.

Which top riders are not yet allowed to test the 2027 bikes?

Riders who are changing manufacturers for 2027 are left out of these tests. They include Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez, Jorge Martin, Ai Ogura and Fabio Quartararo. Only a few riders have firm contracts for 2027 so far. At Honda these are Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, at Yamaha Toprak Razgatlioglu, at Aprilia Marco Bezzecchi, and at Ducati Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer.

Pol Espargaro returns to KTM’s 850cc prototype

KTM is testing privately at the Misano World Circuit on Tuesday and Wednesday. Test riders Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa are on the 850cc prototype. For Espargaro, it is the first MotoGP test since his accident in mid-April. He injured his left hand while training on a dirt-track bike. The injury was not serious, but it came at a bad time for KTM. When Maverick Vinales was missing at Le Mans for the French GP, Espargaro could not replace him. Tech3 used Jonas Folger instead, and Vinales was back in Catalunya. The 4.2-kilometer circuit on the Adriatic coast should be well prepared. World Superbike raced there the weekend before, also on Pirelli tires. If everything goes to plan at Misano, Espargaro could also be back on the 850 in Brno on Monday. KTM was the first manufacturer to show images of its new bike, when Espargaro rode it at Jerez in December. Honda, Ducati and Aprilia have since tested their 850s as well. Yamaha is said to have done so away from the public eye.

When are the next MotoGP tests with the 850cc bikes?

After Brno, the next test is planned for the Monday after the Austrian Grand Prix, September 21 at Spielberg. On December 1, directly after the season finale in Valencia, comes the test where all riders may ride the 2027 bikes with their new teams. Until then, only the riders who take part in Brno and Spielberg will gain experience with the new bikes and tires. Pirelli wants to use the factory riders’ feedback from these tests to finish developing its 2027 tires. Giorgio Barbier, who is responsible for MotoGP at Pirelli, therefore places great weight on these assessments.

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

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➜ More on this topic in our overview: 2027 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview.