Luca Marini believes MotoGP’s impending transfer to 850cc machines will offset the drawback Honda faces from dropping open-engine improvement in 2026.
Honda moved from D to C within the concession rating system this season as a result of it exceeded the 35% concession level threshold.
Consequently, the RC213V’s engine design can be frozen from the opening race in Thailand till the top of the marketing campaign.
Ducati, Aprilia and KTM are topic to an identical freeze from early 2025, however Yamaha, presently the one remaining D-rated manufacturing unit, will have the ability to proceed modifying its new V4 engine all through subsequent yr.
Nevertheless, even when Honda stays in rank D, Marini feels the shift in focus to the 2027 rules will restrict the event of upcoming 1000cc powerplants.
Requested in regards to the draw back of transferring to C rank, Marini stated: “The engine is not going to change a lot for 2026.”
“There isn’t a level in investing a lot money and time into a brand new 1000cc engine now.
“I feel we might be completely satisfied for now. We simply want to listen to a little bit extra in regards to the finer particulars of the engine for the Sepang check, however apart from that I feel it is going to be the identical.”
Marini added that attaining the 285 factors wanted to alter the concession class has been a transparent aim because the summer time break.
“We thought it was attainable to alter the standings and everybody labored onerous to attain this,” he stated.
The rating improve additionally means Honda’s 4 race riders will now not have to participate in personal testing.
“That is one thing you actually need once you’re on the again and I’m completely satisfied to have the ability to do it and assist Honda get to this stage,” Marini stated of the extra testing.
“But additionally, for us as manufacturing unit riders, it is good to have fewer occasions, as a result of for the final two years we have spent lots of power exterior of GPs, flying extra and being away from dwelling for an additional two or three days every time.
“Now now we have a really sturdy check workforce with Aleix and Taka and they’re doing a fantastic job as a result of now we have improved quite a bit in that space as properly in comparison with final yr. So we’re actually relieved about this (change).”
Excluding LCR rookie Diogo Moreira, Honda’s race riders are now not eligible to participate within the Sepang shakedown check, so Marini, Joan Mir and Johann Zarco will subsequent journey the RCV within the official MotoGP check from February third to fifth.
