Rain spoils debut of Honda’s 850cc engine in Sepang test

Honda’s maiden test with its new 850cc engine at the Sepang International Circuit was severely disrupted by heavy rain, Motorsport.com understands.

Honda’s test and development team travelled to Malaysia last week to tackle the final test of the year before the Christmas break.

However, persistent rainfall throughout the three days that HRC personnel were at the circuit meant the team was unable to achieve one of its primary objectives: carrying out representative running with its prototype 2027 engine.

According to sources, HRC’s test rider Takaaki Nakagami went out on track with a conventional bike fitted with a reduced aerodynamic package and the 850cc engine that will be introduced under the 2027 regulations.

Nakagami was able to try both the wet and dry tyre compounds Pirelli is developing for 2027, when it replaces Michelin as MotoGP’s official tyre supplier. However, it is understood that Nakagaima was only able to complete very few laps on slicks, preventing Honda from gathering any meaningful data in dry conditions.

Aleix Espargaro, Honda HRC

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

For the Japanese manufacturer, the Sepang test marked the final opportunity to make full use of its D-level concessions, having collected 35% of the available points over the course of the 2025 season and moved into Group C under the system.

That ‘promotion’ means HRC’s development team will not be able to test freely whenever and wherever it wants in 2026, and will be limited by the number of tyres per season (260) that each rider can use. Further, Honda’s regular riders will also no longer be allowed to carry out private tests.

As a result, like Ducati (Group A), KTM and Aprilia (both Group C), Honda will have to wait for the tests organised by Pirelli during 2026 - currently expected to be two - to test the new compounds again. Alternatively, it can split the remaining tests between running the 2026 and 2027 bikes. 

To that end, Motorsport.com understands that Aleix Espargaro will focus on developing the final version of the RC213V, while Nakagami will work with the new RC214V. Espargaro will join the 2027 project midway through the season.

At Sepang, the Japanese test rider was able to run with the new Pirelli wet tyres, a compound that no other manufacturer has been able to test so far. The rest of the teams ran Pirelli’s dry tyres at the Misano test in September, while KTM also tested its 2027 bike in a private session at Jerez in November.