MotoGP Honda manager Alberto Puig: “It’s natural that there’s less support now, but if we can regularly finish in the top five, that would be another important step.”

2025 sling For those on golden wings, this year has been the most positive in a long time. In addition to achieving two podiums thanks to Joan Mir, one victory and another podium thanks to Johann Zarco. Japan changed the level of concessions and added enough points to move from the last step to the penultimate stepthus losing certain privileges for developing motorcycles.

However, this loss of advantage means that steps are being taken to finally return to the top of MotoGP. 2026 will also be an important year. That’s why Honda team manager Alberto Puig is confident of making the quality leaps needed to continue progressing. And the first impressions from last Tuesday’s test in Valencia paid off.

“The truth is that, despite the rain, it was a positive day. There was little to test, but what we tried seemed to work. The steering is good, I’m happy. We tried to get grip, we tried different things with the chassis. That gives us a certain direction during the winter. We know that what we’ve been doing so far is working and we can continue along those lines. This is how we approach new things,” Puig said on DAZN.

“It is true that we are less likely to change as the concession levels change, but that is why it is so important that what we have tried today works. If we move up to the concession ranks, it is natural that we will receive less aid. We are happy with that. If it had not worked today, it would have been much worse.”

2026 goals

After taking the first steps in the most successful rebrand in World Cup history, Puig realized he needed to raise the bar even higher. However, it is still too early to talk about a battle with major brands like Ducati and Aprilia.

“It is clear that we have improved, we have gained power and now we have to look for that consistency in our results. It’s good to be in the top 5 on a regular basis. We have to try to keep that consistency and make sure the driver doesn’t have to follow the hook every lap. This causes falls and prevents you from performing well on the grid. “If we can get a bike that will put us in the top six, we will go even further.”

“Moreira’s debut? Logically, the first day in MotoGP could be hell. The bike is very strong. He was already warned not to put any pressure on him and to be calm. Changing categories is not easy. But for any rider who has been a champion, it is not a coincidence. Over time, he is a young rider with ambition and I am sure he will move up,” he said in conclusion.