Aleix Espargaro, less cycling and more Honda: "2027 a crucial year for us

Aleix Espargaro takes stock of 2025, spent between motorcycles and bicycles: the Honda project motivates him a lot.

In 2024 his career as a full-time rider ended, but Aleix Espargaro began another “part-time” one as a Honda MotoGP test rider, which is giving him motivation and satisfaction. Over the 2025 season the RC213V has shown growth, and there has also been a contribution from the test team, which includes Takaaki Nakagami as well. Certainly, the arrival of Romano Albesiano as technical director has given a very positive boost to the project.

HRC has lost the D-class concessions, so in 2026 it will not enjoy the same freedoms it had in recent years, but it’s a sign that the right path has been taken to return more consistently to the positions that matter.

On his YouTube channel, the Catalan rider reviewed his 2025 season: "I combined being a Honda test rider with being a professional cyclist. Due to injuries and overlapping commitments, I didn’t race as much as I wanted in cycling. I had to race much more with Honda. I contested six Grands Prix, but at the beginning there was only one on the schedule. But I also had to adapt a bit to this new Honda project as a tester, which I really enjoyed."

Espargaro took his commitment with HRC very seriously and in 2026 he will also have the crucial task of developing the RC214V, the prototype built for the technical regulations that will come into force in MotoGP from 2027: "Midway through the year, after my injuries, when I got to Barcelona physically exhausted from the bicycle crash, Honda and Puig asked me to do more work for 2026, because I will also have to develop the 2027 bike, with Pirelli tires and the 850 cc engine."

In 2026 he will still be linked to the Lidl–Trek cycling team, but only as an ambassador and for training: "I’ll be more focused on Honda — explains Aleix — the project is fantastic and I’m enjoying it more than I imagined at the start of the year. At the beginning of the year I was really excited to become a cyclist, because it was my dream and something new. I’m very proud of what I’ve done. But now it’s time to focus more on Honda, I think that’s where I can make the biggest contribution."

As a tester, Espargaro was pleased when he saw the good results from Luca Marini and Joan Mir of the HRC MotoGP team, and he wants to keep giving his all for the project: "I think the work we’ve done so far has also been very good. Seeing Joan and Luca so competitive, getting podiums, is very positive. 2027 is a crucial year for us, so Aleix has to put all his energy and focus on Honda."