Marco Bezzecchi
Honda have announced that Mikihiko Kawase will become their team manager from the 2027 MotoGP season, with Alberto Puig moving to an advisory role at the brand.
Puig has steered the ship in Tokyo since Honda put the Spanish former 500cc race winner in charge of their factory MotoGP project in January 2018. But Honda announced in May 2026 that Puig would be stepping down from the helm and moving to a broader role at the outfit.
It is now confirmed that Puig will advise and assist Honda, but not in the day-to-day running of their factory MotoGP team’s project, as Kawase steps up to the top job. Kawase secured a promotion into Honda’s hot seat, after they decided to replace Puig from within their set-up.
Kawase is expected to be supported by Davide Brivio in the future, too, as the Italian is also believed to be joining Honda after Trackhouse confirmed his departure. It is said that Brivio will focus on Honda’s broader interests, as he moves away from a trackside managerial role.
Honda have yet to confirm Brivio’s arrival, but have announced that Kawase will replace Puig as their MotoGP team manager from 2027. So, with that in mind, MotoGP News has taken a look at everything that you need to know about Kawase as he takes over the helm at Honda.
Jorge Martin thinks Honda and Yamaha will return to form in 2027 👀 How do you think they will fare with the new regulations?
Get to know Honda’s new MotoGP team manager from 2027, Mikihiko Kawase
Mikihiko Kawase has been a key figure in Honda’s factory MotoGP efforts since 2024, having taken over the position of technical manager. Kawase played an instrumental role in guiding the growth that Honda then enjoyed towards the end of the 1,000cc regulations era in 2026.
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Honda finished last in the 2023 MotoGP constructors’ championship with only 185 points in their account. Marc Marquez also scored their sole Grand Prix podium finish in 2023 with P3 in Japan. But Kawase was fundamental to developing the RC213V into a machine that again became capable of allowing riders to regularly fight for rostrums, and also rare race wins.
Becoming Honda’s new MotoGP team manager from 2027 after Alberto Puig elected to step away from the position will put Kawase in a more public-facing role than he experienced as the brand’s technical manager. But it is a position that Kawase takes great pride in securing.
“I am honoured to have this opportunity to lead a team with this much history and success,” Kawase said upon the confirmation that he will replace Puig at Honda’s helm from 2027.
“I must thank Honda for this opportunity, and also Alberto Puig, who has already been a great mentor and advisor for many years. The support of both will be crucial to the future success of the team.
“2027 will be a landmark year for MotoGP with the biggest changes to rules and regulations since the championship went from two-stroke to four-stroke.
“Inside Honda, we must continue to give our maximum to start this new era strongly and return to fighting at the front.”
Mikihiko Kawase has worked for HRC since 2012 and was key to their Moto3 efforts
Mikihiko Kawase first joined Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) back in 2012, following a spell working for the wider Honda company. He first caught the eye of the Japanese brand whilst working for various parts manufacturers to help fund his lightweight racing career in Japan.
Kawase competed in Japan’s lightweight classes from the age of 18 to 27, having developed a keen interest in motorcycles aged just 10. That interest set the foundations for his path to one day joining Honda and then HRC in 2012, after which he was key to their Moto3 efforts.
As Honda’s Large Project Leader working on the NSF250RW, Kawase steered the course that ultimately saw Lorenzo Dalla Porta secure a dominant Moto3 title in 2019 aboard their bike for Leopard Racing. The Italian beat Aron Canet, riding a KTM, to the title by 79 points.
Dalla Porta scored four wins and made 11 podiums from the 19 races he contested en route to winning the 2019 Moto3 title on a Honda. Seeing the results of Kawase’s efforts in Moto3 then led Honda to promote him to their factory MotoGP project soon after the 2019 season.
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