Aleix Espargaro’s comments on Honda’s 2026 bike proves they are doing exactly what they need to

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Honda are looking to push on from a successful 2025 MotoGP season with a solid winter of development.

Their last 12 months have been night and day compared to what they went through in 2024, and the manufacturer finally seems to be trending in the right direction.

They’ll be key players in the MotoGP rider market over the coming months, as they look to set their operations up for the 2027 season.

Honda have shown interest in a few riders, and will be one of the coveted destinations heading into 2027, but they’ll want to see what their current duo can offer first before turning them down.

Liberty Media will want Marquez back at Honda, according to experienced agent Carlo Pernat, who witnessed some of his greatest years.

On the other hand, Jorge Lorenzo thinks Honda regret not signing Luigi Dall’Igna when they had the chance to. It could have changed their trajectory almost instantly.

READ MORE: Pedro Acosta spells out what KTM ‘have to’ do to keep him happy amid Ducati and Honda interest

Aleix Espargaro confirms Honda are heading exactly where they need to for 2026

Honda were ‘desperate’ to move up the concessions at the final race of the season in Valencia, doing so by the slenderest of margins, courtesy of Luca Marini’s seventh place.

They ended up achieving the exact 35% threshold, giving them something to celebrate, and confirming that they’re heading in the right direction.

Pedro Acosta has been told to pursue Honda, which would be an incredibly exciting combination to watch, given how young and talented he is.

Test rider Aleix Espargaro’s most recent comments suggest that their bike is going in the perfect direction, at a steady rate. Mat Oxley’s latest admission is good reading for Honda fans.

“The interesting thing about what Aleix said, you know, the bike seemed to be better in every area, which is what you want, isn’t it? You don’t want it kind of, you can’t make huge steps,” he said on the Oxley Bom Podcast.

“It’s just not possible really. You just need to keep chipping away in each area, chip away in aero, chip away at chassis, chip away at engine.”

READ MORE: Luca Marini explains how Honda’s confidence in Marc Marquez caused them to suffer in MotoGP

Why Honda can be quietly excited for the 2026 MotoGP season

Although the factory team didn’t win a race this year, Johann Zarco did for LCR, which would have meant just as much to them.

Being back on the top step of the podium was a significant milestone, and Joan Mir confirmed their pace with two further rostrums.

Consistency is slowly coming back, and Luca Marini has been excellent on that side of things. He crashed just three times in 2025 and scored points in every Grand Prix that he finished.

The next step is to really challenge for the top five at every race, and eliminate the weaknesses they have still faced this year. Then their rivals will start to take notice of what they’re doing.