– In the background, the development of the new MotoGP prototypes is in full swing. The key points of the new regulations from 2027 are a reduction of the displacement from 1,000 cubic centimeters to 850.
Read more Project Motor Racing: LMDh class, driving physics, AI and more in focus of update V2.0.0.4
In addition, ride-height systems will be banned and the size of the winglets slightly reduced. A significant change concerns the tires. In the future, Pirelli will equip the premier class instead of Michelin.
The previous private tests took place behind closed doors. Apart from a few photos on social media, hardly anything reached the public. It will still take some time before one can get an idea of the new motorcycles.
On Monday (June 22), a test day will take place after the Czech Grand Prix in Brno. Then, for the first time, the regular riders will also ride the new 850 prototypes.
However, this test day will also take place behind closed doors. No media representatives are allowed in the paddock this Monday in Brno. Whether the Monday test on September 21 in Spielberg will be open to the public has not yet been decided.
The test riders of the five MotoGP brands are also not yet allowed to speak in detail about the new prototypes. But recently, Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro revealed some impressions.
“I really am not allowed to talk about this project, but what I can say is: The motorcycle is incredibly fun,” Espargaro says to MotoGP.com. “It is clearly more fun than the 1,000cc motorcycle.
“The Pirelli tires have great grip, and with a bit less torque down low, you can play a bit more at the apex. The motorcycle is over ten kilos lighter, so the direction changes are excellent.”
“I believe the fans at home will also have fun because, in my opinion, there will be many more duels. I can hardly wait to show everyone the new motorcycle.”
Although the new 850 prototype has slightly less power and will be somewhat slower on the straights due to the ban on the ride-height system, it will still be an extremely fast motorcycle.
During the previous test rides, it leaked that the 850 motorcycle is somewhat slower than the current bikes but not significantly slower. Depending on the track, it should only be two to three seconds.
Read more RaceRoom: Latest update with physics model and netcode improvements
This trend is also confirmed by Espargaro: “I can’t give exact numbers, but what I can say is: We compared both motorcycles, the 1,000cc and the 850cc, and they are closer to each other than people have claimed.”
Espargaro still has to pause for a few weeks
The 36-year-old recently attended his home race in Barcelona. Since LCR rider Johann Zarco has to pause longer due to his knee injury after the serious starting accident, Honda needs a replacement rider.
It is unlikely that Espargaro will be considered for this. In April, he had a serious crash during private test rides in Sepang (Malaysia). He suffered vertebral fractures and had to undergo surgery.
“I am doing well,” Espargaro said at the end of May and described the accident: “It was completely my fault. I braked too late on the long back straight, locked the rear brake, and went down.”
“It was a severe highside, probably the worst crash of my career. I landed on my back and broke four vertebrae. Fortunately, the surgeons did a very good job during the operation.”
Espargaro also confirms that it will take some time before he can get back on the motorcycle: “Now it has been a month. I need a few more months to recover.”
“Hopefully, I can come back in the last part of the summer when the new 850 prototype arrives from Japan. Then we will hopefully be ready to push the further development.”
So far, Takaaki Nakagami has primarily worked with the new prototype. It was planned from the start that Espargaro would initially still work with the 1,000cc motorcycle and switch to the 850 project during the summer.
Honda has not yet confirmed whether Nakagami will represent Zarco in the LCR team at the upcoming races in Italy (Mugello) and Hungary (Balaton Park).
Read more Russell vs Antonelli: What the F1 rules really say
