Honda rider Joan Mir has revealed the Japanese manufacturer has stopped developing its current MotoGP bike as it turns its full attention to the all-new machine for the 2027 season.
With MotoGP set to introduce sweeping technical regulations in 2027, including smaller 850cc engines and revised aerodynamic rules, manufacturers have begun prioritising the development of their next-generation bikes over further upgrades to their current machinery.
According to Mir, Honda has already reached that stage. The 2020 MotoGP world champion said no major updates are expected for the remainder of the season, with engineers instead concentrating their resources on the future RC214V project.
Mir admitted the decision means Honda's results could suffer during the second half of the campaign, especially as rivals continue to fight at the front. However, he believes the sacrifice is necessary if the manufacturer wants to be competitive when the new regulations come into force in 2027.
Source: Autosport
Honda made encouraging progress earlier this season after several difficult years, but Mir acknowledged the current bike has now reached the limit of its development. Rather than investing further in a machine that will become obsolete after this year, the team is putting its efforts into building a stronger package for MotoGP's new era.
The change in direction comes as every manufacturer balances the challenge of remaining competitive in the final season of the 1,000cc regulations while preparing for the biggest technical overhaul MotoGP has seen in years. Although some rivals are still introducing small improvements, Honda has opted to make an early transition in the hope of gaining an advantage for 2027.
For Mir, the priority is now to extract the maximum performance from the existing bike for the rest of the season, even without further factory upgrades. While he expects the task to become increasingly difficult, the Spaniard believes the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term compromises if Honda returns to the front when the new generation of MotoGP machinery arrives in 2027.
