In a bold declaration, Alberto Puig has acknowledged that Honda’s trajectory in the 2025 MotoGP season is unmistakably on the rise. However, the team is not resting on its laurels, as Puig emphasizes the critical need for enhanced consistency as they gear up for the 2026 season.
This year started with Honda grappling with challenges reminiscent of their struggles in 2024. Joan Mir faced a tough start, crashing out of five out of the first six races, while Luca Marini found himself battling just to break into the top-10. Despite these hurdles, a shining moment emerged with Johann Zarco clinching a stunning victory in the rain-soaked Le Mans, signaling that Honda’s fortunes might be shifting.
The true transformation, however, became evident post-summer break. Mir’s impressive front-row qualifying and podium finish in Japan, followed by another podium in Malaysia, showcased Honda’s potential. This resurgence not only marked a dramatic shift in performance but also propelled Honda up the ranks, moving from category D to category C concessions, culminating in Marini’s commendable seventh-place finish in Valencia.
“It was a really working hard year, but we made some progress – this is, I think, clear,” Puig stated, reflecting on the team’s efforts. He went on to express that while they are not quite there yet, this season has seen Honda make the most significant strides in utilizing their development time and concessions. “In the beginning of the year, we were really not at the same point that we are at now,” he noted, highlighting the evolution of the bike throughout the season.
One of the standout improvements has undeniably been the engine performance. Puig asserted, “Normally, a bike is many things, but if you ask me personally I think we made a big improvement in the engine.” He emphasized that speed is crucial in this competitive class, and Honda has delivered the necessary horsepower that their riders have come to appreciate.
Looking ahead to 2026, Puig is focused on achieving greater consistency in race performances. While they were able to challenge for podiums towards the end of 2025, maintaining that level across all races remains a priority. “There have been good moments,” he remarked, recalling Zarco’s impressive win in Le Mans and the solid performances from Mir and Marini. “The progress is there, but we need to find a little bit more consistency right now, and this is what we are focusing [on] for next year.”
Adding to the excitement for the upcoming season is the addition of 2025 Moto2 World Champion Diogo Moreira to the Honda lineup. Puig sees this as a promising development, saying, “Also interesting for next year, […] we will have a new guy [Moreira] coming from Moto2, which is a young rider, which is interesting to see how he starts.”
As Honda prepares for what promises to be an exhilarating 2026 season, Puig’s message is clear: the team is determined to reclaim its position at the forefront of MotoGP. “It’s quite an exciting season in front and, at the end of the day, Honda wants to win and sooner or later we will be ready for it.” The anticipation is palpable, and fans are eager to see if Honda can translate its hard-fought progress into consistent podium finishes and ultimately, championship glory.
