Honda has called up Joan Mir to take part in a post-Czech Grand Prix test of its 2027 MotoGP prototype, despite the fact the Spanish rider is set to join a rival manufacturer next season, Motorsport.com reported.
Mir will not remain with Honda’s factory operation in 2027 after reaching an agreement to join Ducati’s satellite Gresini team, making the decision highly unusual within the MotoGP paddock. It is understood to be the first known case in the modern era of a rider switching manufacturers being given access to test machinery developed for a future season.
Honda has asked Mir to participate in the Monday test at Brno, where the company will evaluate its RC214V prototype built for the upcoming 850cc regulations due to be introduced in the premier class next season.
The same report indicated that Honda has also called up Luca Marini, whose future beyond the current project remains unclear, for the same post-race test.
The manufacturer’s objective is to gather performance feedback from its current factory riders. Although Honda has already secured 2027 talent in young rider Diogo Moreira, he has not been included in the test, as regulations limit manufacturers to two 850cc machines on track during such sessions.
Traditionally, riders departing for rival manufacturers have not been granted access to future development programs, making Honda’s approach a notable departure from precedent. The company has argued internally that the potential technical gain outweighs competitive concerns.
With test rider Aleix Espargaro sidelined due to injury, Honda’s development workload is currently shared with only Takaaki Nakagami available to support the 2027 prototype program. The RC214V is viewed as central to Honda’s performance recovery strategy, with the manufacturer aiming to return to championship contention in the new regulatory cycle.
Honda has also secured Moreira and Johann Zarco for 2027, while other major riders across the paddock already committed or expected to switch include Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer at Ducati, Marco Bezzecchi at Aprilia and Toprak Razgatlioglu at Yamaha.
Zarco, meanwhile, has been sidelined since May 17 and will again be replaced by veteran Cal Crutchlow at LCR Honda for upcoming rounds in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, with no timeline yet confirmed for his return.
The Brno test will focus exclusively on 2027 machinery featuring 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics and the removal of ride-height devices, while Pirelli replaces Michelin as sole tyre supplier in a major technical overhaul of the championship.
The regulatory shift marks the beginning of a new competitive cycle in MotoGP, with early testing expected to play a decisive role in development direction. Riders changing manufacturers for 2027, including Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Pedro Acosta, Alex Marquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini and Ai Ogura, are set to lose critical early development mileage as a result.
Additional factory tests are scheduled after the Austrian Grand Prix on Sept. 21 and again on Dec. 1 in Valencia, where all riders will be permitted to participate without restriction.
Pirelli MotoGP director Giorgio Barbier has previously emphasized that factory rider feedback will be central to shaping final tyre specifications for the 2027 era, underscoring the importance of early testing sessions such as Brno in determining competitive balance for the next cycle.
