HRC MotoGP Technical Manager Mikihiko Kawase on progress and concessions

MotoGP 2024–2025
Assessing Honda’s Step Forward

Honda’s 2025 MotoGP season marked a noticeable improvement over its difficult 2024 campaign, with clear gains in competitiveness across a number of areas.

The manufacturer increased its Constructors Championship tally to 285 points, an improvement of 210 points over the previous year, and recorded one win and multiple podium finishes after going without a podium in 2024.

The overall speed deficit also shrank considerably.

Using only round-to-round comparisons where both 2024 and 2025 hosted a Grand Prix at the same circuit, the gap from the leading rider to the top-finishing Honda fell from an average of 30 seconds to 13.5 seconds, effectively halving the margin.

Honda cut its average race deficit by 57% from 2024 to 2025, reducing the gap from 30 seconds to 13.5 across identical circuits. Each bar shows the year-on-year difference in pace at every GP where a direct comparison was possible

Across the 22 races in 2025, the leading Honda typically finished between sixth and seventh place. This represents a significant step forward, given the depth of competition.

Honda’s returning riders also saw clear year-on-year improvements.

Johann Zarco finished 12th overall on 148 points, an increase of 93 over his 2024 total.

Johann Zarco finished 12th overall with 148 points, 93 more than his 2024 total

Luca Marini also lifted his results, improving his points haul more than tenfold compared with the previous season.

Luca Marini just one spot behind in the standings and improving on his season points haul tenfold

Joan Mir added 85 more points to his 2024 total and registered his first two podiums as a Honda rider.

Joan Mir taking a total of 85 more points across the year and claimed his first two Honda podiums.

Beyond the results sheet, the changes reflect several seasons of technical restructuring and a broader revision of the MotoGP project inside HRC, spanning Japan and Europe.

The improvement in results sees Honda move from D to C Concessions for 2026, altering the scope of permissible development and testing.

MotoGP Technical Manager Mikihiko Kawase has been working diligently alongside engineers and staff in Japan and Europe to help return Honda to the front. Having joined Honda Racing Corporation in 2012 after a youth spent racing, he came to the MotoGP World Championship with the Moto3 project before being moved to the MotoGP Project. Serving as the MotoGP Technical Manager since 2024, Kawase-san has been deeply involved in the project for several seasons.

HRC MotoGP Technical Manager Mikihiko Kawase

Q: Kawase-san, please explain your role within the MotoGP operation?

Kawase: “Since 2024 I have been the MotoGP Technical Manager. It is my duty to coordinate the efforts of all  the teams and engineers at the track, listen to rider feedback and check all the data. From this information we work to understand the direction and coordinate with the development team on which areas to focus on. With the arrival of Romano Albesiano as Technical Director, we are working closely together to manage both race-weekend activity and development.”

Q: Are you satisfied with 2025?

Kawase: “2025 has been a very good season, Honda’s best since 2019 in terms of Constructor points. Of course, we have to take satisfaction from this after several difficult years. But Honda is in MotoGP to fight for victory, so we must keep working until we’re consistently at the front.”

Q: What were the main factors behind the reduced gap to the front?

Kawase: “For the past few seasons we tried many things — aero, chassis, engine — to understand our limitations. In the second half of 2024 we found a strong aero package and a base bike to build from. In 2025 we continued developing all areas, but one of the biggest steps came from the engine, not only in top-end speed but in power delivery. We are always increasing our knowledge and improving our working methods. I also have to thank the engineers in Japan and Italy, and the riders who helped by testing many items during race weekends.”

Q: What does moving from D to C Concessions mean?

Kawase: “It’s the next step. There are restrictions — fewer test tyres, no testing for Grand Prix riders and tighter rules on engine development. The Test Team, now with Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro, did a great job in 2025 and will be even more important in 2026. Inside HRC, we expect the allocation of resources between the 2026 and 2027 models to become clearer soon, allowing more efficient development.”

Honda move up a category in the concessions next year after Marini took seventh on Sunday at Valencia

Q: What are the goals for 2026?

Kawase: “To continue fighting consistently for the top five, and to aim for podiums when possible. MotoGP is always moving, so we must continue pushing. 2026 is the last year of the 1,000cc era, and we want the best results possible with the RC213V. Development is already underway to keep refining all areas of performance.”