Honda is making great strides this season, and Luca Marini is convinced that the 2026 RC213V is already more powerful than the current MotoGP bike.
Honda is optimistic about the future of MotoGP: According to factory rider Luca Marini, development of the new 2026 model of the RC213V is making great progress, and the motorcycle is already better than the current version.
If the manufacturer continues at this pace, Marini is certain that Honda will be able to fight for race wins on a regular basis again next year.
After several difficult years, Honda is enjoying its best season since 2021 in 2025. With one victory and three further podium finishes, most recently by Joan Mir at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Japanese manufacturer has made a noticeable comeback.
Johann Zarco’s triumph at Le Mans and his second place at Silverstone in particular gave the team a much-needed boost. However, the decisive push came from the revised motorcycle, which was introduced after the summer break.
With a new chassis, swingarm, and improved aerodynamics, Mir achieved his first podium finish as a Honda rider at the Japanese Grand Prix. Last weekend in Sepang, he finished third again. Marini was also on course for a podium finish in Indonesia before a collision with Raul Fernandez threw him back.
2026 prototype already impresses
Thanks to the MotoGP concession system, Honda is already allowed to work on the RC213V for 2026, the last motorcycle under the current regulations. Marini tested the new prototype in Misano in September and was enthusiastic.
“Next year’s bike is already better,” he emphasizes. “We are constantly developing new ideas and updates. We will try it out again at the Valencia test, but I am convinced that it is already stronger than the current machine.”
According to Marini, Honda has worked intensively on the rear end in particular. “I personally wanted to develop the rear of the bike in particular, especially the rear end, because there is enormous potential there. Until now, the bike hasn’t given the rider the right feeling,” says the Italian, explaining the shortcoming. “In the past, all Honda riders complained about ‘floating’ and a lack of rear grip. I think we now understand how to solve that.“
”At every test, we bring something new to improve this feeling. We have now reached a very good level. Rear grip is still a problem, but much less so than last year or at the beginning of this season. The 2026 bike is already significantly better in this area.”
Both Honda riders with more confidence
In the last six races, Honda has scored 91 points in the constructors’ championship – more than in 2024 overall. Marini sees the reasons for this not only in the motorcycle, but also in the close cooperation between riders and team.
“We riders, Joan and I, are also developing together with the motorcycle. The bike has definitely taken a step forward, but it wasn’t one single thing that suddenly gave us five tenths. We’ve worked on every detail, in every area,“ says Marini, who sees the overall package as significantly optimized. ”This has allowed us to constantly improve our riding. We brake better, enter corners faster, turn more precisely, and get back on the throttle earlier.” “That’s fantastic because Joan and I are in very good shape right now. I think we can maintain this level of performance until the end of the season. The important thing is that we start again from exactly this point next year and continue to work to be a contender for victory. That will be the goal for next year.”
Honda has clearly set out to regain its former strength. With significant technical advances, growing rider confidence, and a prototype that is already proving impressive, Luca Marini believes the team is well equipped for a comeback to the top.
“We are on the right track. If we maintain this progress, we can regularly fight for victories in 2026. The potential is definitely there.”