Honda is planning a return to six bikes in MotoGP for 2027 – but which customer team will join them is still open.
Honda is apparently working on an ambitious plan for the 2027 MotoGP season: according to information from Motorsport.com, the manufacturer is planning to increase its presence to six motorcycles. The prerequisite is an agreement with a second satellite team.
Between 2014 and 2019, Honda reduced the number of motorcycles used in MotoGP from eight to just four. For 2027, there are now to be six bikes on the track again – two in the works team and two in each of the customer teams.
Honda hopes that this will give it greater strategic flexibility, particularly in the areas of bike development and rider management and placement.
Gresini and Trackhouse apparently not an option
According to Motorsport.com, Honda has held talks with potential partners such as Trackhouse and Gresini in recent months. However, Trackhouse is said not to be planning to part ways with Aprilia and Gresini is close to an extension with Ducati.
Despite the loss of Alex Marquez (moving to KTM) and Fermin Aldeguer (competing for VR46) for the coming season, team boss Nadia Padovani is said to have agreed to the Ducati proposal. The prospect of putting together a strong rider line-up with Daniel Holgado’s commitment is particularly interesting.
In addition, the Tech3 team, which is apparently open to a change of motorcycle supplier following its sale to a group of investors with Günther Steiner as the face of the team, is increasingly coming into focus. The background to this is the uncertainty surrounding the future of KTM under the Indian ownership group Bajaj.
Why Honda wants to expand its line-up
With six motorcycles, Honda would have significantly more leeway in its rider line-up. So far, only Fabio Quartararo is considered a fixed rider in the 2027 factory team, even if this has not yet been officially confirmed. This would mean that Joan Mir or Luca Marini – or even both – would have to vacate their current cockpit.
Apart from Quartararo, the only Honda riders under contract beyond 2026 are Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco at LCR. The Brazilian is currently a rookie and is considered a long-term prospect with a contract until 2028.
Zarco’s contract expires in 2027. HRC is also planning to bring Moto2 talent David Alonso into the team. Whether he will join the works team alongside Quartararo or will initially be developed in a satellite team is still to be decided.
The increase to six bikes would give Honda more options overall and possibly allow them to keep a current rider – presumably Marini, who has already held talks with Yamaha and is apparently more open than Mir to accepting a role outside the factory team.