The new rules will introduced reduced-capacity 850cc engines and sustainable fuels, with the goal of reducing the maximum top speed of the bikes and improving their agility through corners. Theoretically, the changes should have little impact on overall lap times, but the switch from Michelin to Pirelli tyres also appears to be having a large impact.

In the latest episode of the Motorsport Republica podcast, hosts Tom and James discussed Honda's development and said that, according to insider knowledge, Honda's prototype had already managed to beat the pole position time set by Marco Bezzecchi at the Misano circuit:

"Just on 27, James, We've got to talk about this Honda," Said Tom, "I'm hearing reports that this thing's going to be a f***ing rocket ship."

"So, Honda did a Misano test a few weeks ago. [...] I've got insider information that Nakagami did a faster lap in testing than last year's pole time, which is wild." Said James.

"Obviously the 850cc engine is going to be lighter, the big thing is going to be the Pirelli tyres, how good are the Pirelli going to be?" He continued, "Clearly they're going to be amazing if that Honda is already faster than last year's pole time, which is insane."

Tom then responded: "That's interesting becasue we've got a bike that they're wanting to slow down [...] and they're going faster, so this is big news coming into '27 because these lighter, more agile bikes, around some circuits, could be just as fast as they are now."

James: "You think of a Valencia, a Sachsenring, maybe even a Misano, they are. [...] If their tyres are a whole lot better than Michelin's, which we think they're going to be, and they are lighter, more agile, they'll still have plenty of power, and the engineers are all there trying to find loopholes and how they can make these bikes fast, which is always the way when there's new regulations, then these bikes can clearly be just as fast."

The hosts then gave their thoughts on the other big story to come out of Honda's recent testing, namely the spinal injury for Aleix Espargaro, which despite being serious, has thankfully avoided paralysing him:

"Contrary to what you were talking about with Nakagami, there was a terrible incident where Aleix Espargaro had a massive crash testing in Sepang. Now, it's unofficial. We don't know if it was actually the 850cc or the 1000cc he was riding. They didn't actually confirm that, but he's gone off at a rate of knots."

Marquez, the current reigning world champion, has yet to confirm whether he will even be racing next year, let alone which team it will be for. While the most likely option is a multi-year renewal with Ducati, some were speculating that he may also consider a move back to Honda. Read all about the interview with the reigning world champion here.