This year, Honda has been trailing in several MotoGP indicators, including top speeds, though this metric doesn’t necessarily reflect the overall performance of a bike.

Johann Zarco of LCR Honda explained in a press conference that despite Honda’s lower top speeds, the RC213V’s limitations stem from its aerodynamics:

– The top speed, you don’t really look at it. It’s coming when it’s coming, and the difference in top speed is not what is making the biggest difference on the lap time. I think we are some steps back with the aerodynamics and I think for this reason we struggle on the fast corners. But then even on the straight, we maybe slow down a bit, because I don’t think it’s a real problem of the engine.

In the past, Zarco achieved significantly higher top speeds on a Ducati until 2023, but he emphasized that comparing the two isn’t feasible: ‘I cannot compare it with previous years; I was on a Ducati, where I could be a bit faster. It’s maybe the way to getting out of the corners, or the aero because we were all the same Ducatis in the past. […]. Sometimes the top speed on some tracks is when you are braking, so many times the guy who gets the top speed is the one that is braking later’.

O conteúdo Top speed? You don’t look ati t; it’s not what’s making the biggest difference on the lap time’ – Johann Zarco aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The 2027 MotoGP regulations aim to improve the motorcycles, creating more spectacular races with increased overtaking opportunities. However, there is some skepticism regarding the actual effects of these changes.

The new regulations include slight changes to the front fairing dimensions, limited development opportunities for rear aerodynamics throughout the season, a ban on ride-height devices, and a reduction in engine displacement from the current 1,000cc to 850cc.

Pedro Acosta, making his debut in the premier class this year, is likely to be at the peak of his career in 2027. During a press conference, the Red Bull GasGas Tech3 rider shared his thoughts on the upcoming regulations:

– I don’t really think about these new regulations. Changing the displacement will not change anything. Maybe the devices yes, because it’s going to be a little easier for us. It’s not so easy to engage the front, then to remember to put the launch at the rear, and many things before the start. But taking out this aero in the front, I don’t think it’s going to change anything. At the end we are going to be as faster as now in the corners.

O conteúdo Pedro Acosta comments on the potential impact of the new 2027 rules aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

It is already confirmed that there will be at least one rookie in MotoGP in 2025 with Fermín Aldeguer expected to join a Ducati satellite team, although the specific team is yet to be confirmed. However, could the Spanish rider be accompanied by other current Moto2 rivals?

One potential rookie pointed to the premier class is Joe Roberts, especially linked to Trackhouse Racing due to his American nationality. Other talents who might aspire to move up include the current championship leader, Sergio García, and last year’s runner-up, Tony Arbolino.

With many contenders but few available spots, Carlo Pernat, a prominent rider manager, spoke to GPOne.com about the possibility of having more rookies besides Aldeguer in 2025:

– It will largely depend on whether Yamaha will establish a second team and if Aprilia needs to make changes at Trackhouse. Rumors are circulating about Joe Roberts, so he could secure a spot. Perhaps there will be another seat at Yamaha. Arbolino needs to step up a bit, and also [Celestino] Vietti, who if he were fast, would certainly have made the jump with KTM.

O conteúdo Carlo Pernat evaluates the chances of more rookies besides Fermín Aldeguer in 2025 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The future of Marc Márquez is uncertain, as is the vacant spot at Ducati alongside Francesco Bagnaia for the 2025 MotoGP season. Jorge Martínez Aspar shared his thoughts on the matter, considering what he would do if he were in the position of Ducati Corse’s General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna.

The Aspar Team leader told the newspaper AS that regardless of Márquez’s destination – Ducati or Pramac – he would try not to let him slip away: ‘I think what would make the most sense, if I were Gigi Dall’Igna, which I am not, is to not let Marc get away, whether in the official team or Pramac, but with official 2025 material. From there, he only has two possibilities: either the official Ducati team or the official KTM team’.

Another possibility for Márquez is KTM, and Aspar believes it would be beneficial for both the rider and the team: ‘I am sure that at KTM they would find a way to make room for him, either as a teammate to [Pedro] Acosta or [Brad] Binder. A team with Acosta, who is the future, and Márquez, an eight-time world champion, would be a great team’.

Regardless of Márquez’s destination, Aspar is convinced of one thing: ‘I am convinced that Márquez will win races this year, and soon, and he will also fight for the World Championship’.

O conteúdo ‘A team with Pedro Acosta and Marc Márquez would be a great team’ – Jorge Martínez Aspar aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Japanese manufacturers have a long history of success in MotoGP. Until very recently, the titles were divided between Honda and Yamaha, and Suzuki also managed to crown itself champion. However, the pandemic marked a turning point, and now the Japanese are struggling significantly behind the dominant Europeans.

Santi Hernández has been a crew chief at Honda for several years and has witnessed both realities. The engineer believes that the pandemic period, during which measures were stricter in Japan than in Europe, had an impact on the projects of Honda and Yamaha:

– I don’t know… it is clear that the Covid-19 era affected European brands less than Japanese ones. We see that Yamaha is also suffering since then because before Covid-19, they were always at the forefront. It affects how they managed the pandemic in their country, and the Europeans came out ahead.

Hernández considers that there may be more factors, but the most important thing at this point is to focus on improvement: ‘Well, we could go into many details, differences in what some do and others do, but we have to focus on seeing what needs to be done and try to improve’.

O conteúdo ‘Pandemic management in Japan affected Honda and Yamaha; Europeans benefited’ – Santi Hernández’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The engine is one of the areas set to change in MotoGP with the new regulations coming in 2027. The alteration involves a reduction in engine displacement from the current 1,000 cubic centimeters to 850cc. However, this change does not necessitate a shift in engine concept or architecture, which will remain four-stroke, four-cylinder as they are currently. The choice between a V configuration or an inline configuration will be up to each manufacturer.

Sebastian Risse, the technical director of KTM, was asked by SPEEDWEEK.com if a change in engine architecture had been considered. The engineer responded:

– Honestly, no. Everyone agreed that we would stick with the four-cylinder base, which all manufacturers are already using, allowing for differentiation nonetheless. What everyone involved did not want was an escalation of concepts like in the past [with various types of engines and different numbers of cylinders among manufacturers].

KTM currently uses a V4 engine in MotoGP. Although they do not rule out switching to an inline four-cylinder engine, they have already made their decision regarding the configuration, but it remains undisclosed for now.

O conteúdo MotoGP manufacturers have not debated changing engine architecture in 2027 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

With motorcycles reaching speeds of several hundred kilometers per hour, agile and constantly in motion, it’s impossible for the human eye to catch all the details that happen in MotoGP.

Technology takes care of this, and with slow-motion footage, we can appreciate those details that go unnoticed at normal speed.

You can see, in the following video, the best slowmotion moments captured during the French GP of MotoGP, from tight maneuvers, overtakes, to crashes.

The round at Le Mans was won by Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati), who also won the Sprint race and set the fastest lap.

Fancy some Le Mans action in slowmo?

Just magnifique #FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/vWUjuwLfvc

— MotoGP (@MotoGP) May 13, 2024

O conteúdo Video: The beauty of detail in the best moments of the French GP in slowmotion aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

This year, Axel Bassani has taken a new direction in his World Superbike career, moving from Motocorsa Racing and Ducati to the official Kawasaki team. As with any transition to a new environment, it takes time to adjust.

His manager, Alberto Vergani, told GPOne.com that this is a challenge Bassani does not fear, and Kawasaki is aware of the type of program they have:

– With Axel, there is a growth project aimed over two years with the goal of quickly adapting to the bike. It is obvious that moving from a Ducati to a Kawasaki is not easy, but he is a rider who is not afraid of these challenges. In these first few races, I think he has shown growth, already finishing in the top ten.

Vergani acknowledged that while Bassani hasn’t always achieved the maximum possible in the early part of the season, the task of adaptation is significant: ‘In other situations, he might have done more but had some bad luck. However, everyone at Kawasaki is aware that Bassani is in a growth project without haste or stress. I think Bassani is experiencing his first real season as a professional, in which he is learning various new dynamics, making Kawasaki the challenge he needs’.

In the first three rounds, Bassani has four finishes in the points, with his best result being ninth place in the first race at Assen. He is currently in 16th place in the championship.

O conteúdo ‘Axel Bassani is experiencing his first real season as a professional’ – Alberto Vergani aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

MotoGP promises to have another thrilling and exciting season. The first five rounds revealed a more consistent Jorge Martín (Pramac Ducati), who currently leads the championship standings.

However, the rivals are strong: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) has already secured two victories and is closely trailing behind in the standings by 38 points. As for Marc Márquez (Gresini Ducati), he seems to have found his rhythm with his bike and has also joined the battle for wins.

Celestino Vietti competes in Moto2 but keeps a close eye on the premier class. Quoted by Moto.it, he anticipates a season of great balance:

– It’s a beautiful championship. In my opinion, it will be a championship that will provide strong emotions because there are three riders, Martín, Márquez, and Bagnaia, who are at the top of their game, always fighting at the front.

Confident in Bagnaia’s chances of keeping up the fight until the end once again, Vietti believes that it’s not unlikely for more riders to join the battle: ‘I think Pecco is at a very high level and can fight until the end with the other two, but someone else could also join the fight between now and the end of the season’.

O conteúdo Celestino Vietti on the MotoGP season: ‘It will provide strong emotions, with three riders at the top of their game’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

It’s not just in MotoGP that Honda is working to have a competitive bike and emerge from the crisis of results it finds itself in. Even in the World Superbike Championship, they are going through the same process, even though in the production-derived motorcycles championship, the bike is more competitive.

At the moment, there is a second team from the Japanese manufacturer – the Petronas MIE Racing Honda Team. However, the level of support provided is still not as desired, nor can it be until solutions are found for the CBR1000RR-R to reach the intended level.

José Escamez, team manager of HRC in WSBK, explained to the SPEEDWEEK.com website: ‘Of course, we support them. As soon as we have found the right path with our bikes, we can support another satellite team. Midori has a great team, it is important for us to give them our best. Unfortunately, we are not ready yet. When we have solved our problems and improved our bike, we want to send them more of our developments. But how are we supposed to do that at this moment if we ourselves are not ready? We know what level we can achieve, that’s what we are working for’.

On the other hand, the official admitted that he would like to have more satellite teams in WSBK: ‘What is certain is that it is important to support our satellite team, we would like to have several. Unfortunately, that is not the case’.

After three rounds, the Petronas MIE Racing Honda has seven points, sitting in 12th place in the championship. The Team HRC is in tenth place with 28 points.

O conteúdo Honda unable to support MIE Racing further in WSBK aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.