Honda’s Next-Gen 850cc MotoGP Motorcycle Makes Track Debut During Secret Test

Watch Honda's 2027 850cc prototype MotoGP bike roar down the Sepang International Circuit during a secret test.

Photo by: Honda

By: Robbie Bacon

Mar 17, at 7:19am ET

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It's a weird time to be a MotoGP fan. With a huge ruleset change coming in 2027, some of the manufacturers that were lagging behind seemingly gave up on being real contenders under the current ruleset and focused their attention on dominating the next generation of MotoGP, the 850cc era. Honda is arguably the biggest name that comes to mind when you think about an OEM using this strategy, for lack of a better word, and its new 850 just made its track debut, well, it actually happened a while ago.

Factory test rider, Takaaki Nakagami, took to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia aboard the 2027 850cc MotoGP prototype machine last December. But we're only seeing footage of the test now as the details were kept secret. The video below shows Nakagami riding the bike in a rain-affected session.

We don't find out much about the bike except for how it looks and sounds roaring down the Sepang circuit's straight. Nakagami did give us a glimpse into what he thought, however. The former LCR Honda team rider said, “The first impression is 'super light'. I was a bit surprised in these conditions. Yeah, quite nice.”

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Other than Honda, KTM is the only other manufacturer to have officially shared footage of its 2027 prototype. The Austrian manufacturer conducted a private test at Jerez, also last December. Rumors are that Yamaha has also completed some tests behind closed doors, although there is no photo or video to confirm this.

We know that both Ducati and Aprilia are aiming to test their 2027 machines on track soon, although we have no official dates as to when. The fact that some manufacturers have essentially checked out of the 1000cc era of MotoGP, along with certain riders signing for new teams in 2027 before the 2026 season has started, has made for a deflated feeling surrounding the current season. I suspect, for most fans, seeing videos of the 2027 machinery roaring into life couldn't come sooner.