Honda Names Mikihiko Kawase as MotoGP Team Manager for 2027

Honda Confirms New Leadership for 2027 MotoGP Campaign

Honda has announced Mikihiko Kawase as its MotoGP team manager, with the appointment set to take effect from the 2027 season. The move represents a significant structural change for the Japanese manufacturer, which has endured a difficult stretch in the premier class in recent years.

The confirmation, first reported by Motorsport Week, puts Kawase in line to oversee Honda's factory MotoGP operation as the team looks to recover lost ground against rivals Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM. Honda's Repsol Honda outfit was once the dominant force in the championship, but the squad has struggled badly since Marc Marquez departed at the end of 2023.

Kawase's exact background and previous role within Honda's motorsport structure were not detailed in the initial announcement, but the appointment signals that Honda is making deliberate personnel changes as part of a wider effort to turn its fortunes around.

Why This Appointment Matters

Team management in MotoGP carries significant influence over everything from rider relationships and technical direction to logistics and race-weekend strategy. A change at the top of that structure often reflects a broader reset in how a manufacturer approaches its programme.

Honda has been open about its struggles. The RC213V has lacked outright pace and consistency, and the team finished well outside the positions expected of a manufacturer with Honda's track record. Joan Mir and Luca Marini have both endured difficult campaigns on the current machinery, with the bike failing to deliver the performance either rider needs to challenge at the front.

Bringing in Kawase ahead of the 2027 season gives him and the broader Honda team time to prepare, align on technical goals, and build the kind of internal structure that could support a genuine title challenge further down the road.

Honda's Push to Rebuild in MotoGP

The 2027 appointment is part of a pattern of changes Honda has been making across its MotoGP programme. The manufacturer has been working on significant updates to its bike concept, and personnel changes at the management level suggest the reset goes beyond engineering alone.

Honda last won the MotoGP riders' championship with Marquez, whose six titles with the team between 2013 and 2019 defined an era. Since his departure, the team has not been able to replicate that level of performance with any rider.

The road back is likely to take time. MotoGP's technical regulations are complex, and rival manufacturers have built considerable momentum. Ducati in particular has established a deep advantage in recent seasons, with its machinery powering multiple riders to race wins and championship contention.

Kawase stepping into the team manager role in 2027 means he will be working within whatever regulatory framework applies then, and Honda will be hoping the combination of new leadership and continued development work on the bike produces measurable progress. The team has plenty of motivation to get things right, given the scale of the gap it needs to close.