Honda shares footage from first MotoGP test with new 850cc engine

Honda has released footage from its first MotoGP test with the new 850cc engine, which took place at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia last December. 

KTM became the first manufacturer to send its 2027 MotoGP prototype out on track, through a private test at Jerez in early December. Honda then quickly followed suit by debuting its new machine with test rider Takaaki Nakagami. 

The test itself was impacted by poor weather conditions, so it was unclear how much running Nakagami and Honda managed to do.

Details were kept secret since the test, however, Honda has now posted a clip of Nakagami riding the bike, which includes sound from the engine on the start-finish straight.  

The clip even shows Nakagami revealing his first thoughts about the new 850cc machine, with the Japanese rider saying:

“The first impression is 'super light'. I was a bit surprised, in these conditions. Yeah, [it was] quite nice.”

While KTM and Honda are the two brands that have officially shared footage of their 2027 MotoGP bike tests, Yamaha is rumoured to have done some initial running behind closed doors. Additionally, Ducati and Aprilia are both aiming to get their new prototype out on track soon.

The 2027 season will be the first of MotoGP’s new era, which includes many tweaks to the regulations. None are bigger than the switch to 850cc engines, though, as the sport is doing away with the current 1,000 power units.

Other changes include ride-height devices being banned, restrictions on the size of aerodynamics, a switch to 100 per cent sustainable fuel, and Michelin tyres being swapped for Pirellis. 

For Honda, the new era of MotoGP could also see it have a new rider line-up, as 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo has been heavily linked with a move to HRC.

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