More natural to ride and noticeably lighter on the track – the 850cc era promises significantly more action – both test riders prefer the new generation
Over the past few months, Takaaki Nakagami has been conducting private test rides on the Honda RC214V, as the new 850cc prototype is known. Aleix Espargaro sustained injuries during test rides in Sepang (Malaysia) in mid-April and has had to take a break since then. The Spaniard has now recovered.
Most recently in Spielberg, Nakagami had to switch back to the current 1,000cc Honda. He stood in for Joan Mir in Austria. According to the Japanese rider, the differences between the 1,000cc and the new 850cc are also significant.
“It’s really difficult for me to make a direct comparison because the bike is, of course, completely different,” he says of the 850cc. “The tyres, in particular, make a huge difference.”
“A direct comparison is therefore difficult, but yes, the bike is fundamentally different and, of course, a bit lighter. For me, though, it’s the tyres that are the decisive factor; that’s where the biggest difference lies.”
Test riders from other manufacturers have already noted that the switch from Michelin to Pirelli tyres represents the biggest change and is a step that must not be underestimated.
Without a ride-height system and with slightly smaller winglets, the new prototypes are said to handle more ‘naturally’ again and be more like a Superbike. The 850s are therefore expected to be more fun to ride than the current 1,000s.
“Personally, yes – I prefer them to the 1,000s,” is also Nakagami’s view. “You don’t have to worry about the rear ride-height system, which makes everything simpler.”
“The aerodynamic elements are also slightly smaller. We still have them, of course, and we need to make the most of these possibilities, but the motorbike handles a bit more naturally. I’m really enjoying it.”
Pol Espargaro explains: This is why everything will be different with the 850
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro, too, would make the same choice if he had to decide between the 1,000cc and the 850cc in terms of fun: “I’d choose the 850cc, and I’ll explain why.”
“The 1,000cc is physically extremely demanding. In my opinion, it’s more dangerous because it has significantly more power. And Michelin has designed these tyres to withstand the enormous torque of these current MotoGP bikes.”
“After all, they have to last the race distance, even if a rider is riding right at the limit and opens the throttle extremely aggressively on corner exit, demanding full power.”
‘Consequently, this means that the carcass and the rubber compound must be very hard to last the entire race. So it is by no means the case that the tyres are inferior or dangerous per se.’
‘They are simply built precisely for this type of racing motorbike,’ explains Pol Espargaro. “And this type of motorbike really demands everything from a rider. It’s an uncompromising racing machine.”
“I don’t think any amateur could ride this motorbike with the current tyres, because the first problem would be that they wouldn’t be able to achieve either the necessary tyre pressure or the right temperature in the front tyres.”
In 2027, things will be different with the new technical regulations and the switch to Pirelli tyres. That’s why the word in the paddock is that the transition will be easier for the four rookies from Moto2 as well as Superbike World Champion Nicolo Bulega.
” “With the 850, everything is changing now,” emphasises Pol Espargaro. “The bike is much easier to ride, noticeably lighter, and the tyres are significantly softer because the bike allows for that in the first place.”
“This makes everything much less complicated, and as I’m not getting any younger, I have absolutely no complaints about this development.” The lap times of the 850cc prototypes are also fast, as the recent Monday test at Spielberg demonstrated.
