Rivals tipped to have created ‘phenomenal’ 2026 bike to challenge Ducati’s dominance

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Ducati remain the team to catch in MotoGP heading into 2026, but the gap to their competitors is slowly starting to shrink.

The Italian manufacturer has dominated the sport over the past few years, most recently securing a sixth straight constructors’ title in 2025.

Marc Marquez played a key role in that success, winning 25 races across both standard Grands Prix and Sprints to claim his ninth world title.

Luigi Dall’Igna described Marquez’s season as ‘impossible’ to comprehend, such was his dominance. With few major changes expected before the new regulations in 2027, Ducati will again be favourites heading into next year.

Even so, other teams are starting to close the gap and take away some of Ducati’s dominance. Aprilia have come closest so far, taking two wins last year and showing strong form at multiple tracks.

Despite all that, another competitor is reportedly making significant strides in development.

Honda’s new bike for 2026 drawing positive early reviews

According to journalist Simon Patterson, ‘whispers’ from the paddock suggest Honda’s 2026 machine is showing great potential. Positive reports about the bike have come from factory riders Joan Mir, Luca Marini, and Johann Zarco, with test rider Aleix Espargaro describing it as ‘phenomenal’.

Discussing Zarco’s adaptation to the RC213V on The Race MotoGP Podcast, Patterson noted: “He keeps saying that he just needs time. He keeps saying that he, people have asked about going back and he refuses point-blank.

“The solution is not going back to the old bike, it’s making this one work because this is better. And you would imagine that this is kind of an intermediate step to what’s coming for next year anyway, a bike that we have already heard a few whispers and rumours, but that is really good.

“According to legendary MotoGP hype man Aleix Espargaro, who’s been testing it and says it’s phenomenal. Marini and Mir and Zarco are also saying the same thing.

“So that he needs to get with his program because it’s the path to the future, it’s where it’s delivering to. He has traditionally been a bit of a slow adapter. I’d argue that Zarco has never been the first one to be fast on something.”

Honda’s 2026 hopes may hinge on more than just the bike

If the early signs are accurate, Honda could be set for a return to form in 2026. According to Marini, the team’s overreliance on Marquez during his dominant run in the 2010s played a big part in their decline.

But things seem to be turning around. The factory HRC team will stick with Marini and Mir, while Diogo Moreira is coming up from Moto2 to join LCR, taking over from Somkiat Chantra and lining up alongside Zarco.

However, this is not the line-up Honda originally had in mind. They were after Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta for 2025 but could not get them out of their contracts due to Dorna stepping in.

Consistency has been hard to come by this season. Mir and Zarco have struggled with crashes, while Marini has kept picking up points but has not managed any podium finishes like his teammate. Chantra’s year has been rough as well.

The RC213V has not made things easy for anyone, but that might change next year. With a new bike expected to be more competitive, there will be pressure on the riders to step up, especially with Honda eyeing major moves ahead of 2027.