Honda have announced that Mikihiko Kawase will be the team manager from the 2027 MotoGP season, with Alberto Puig moving to an advisory role on the product.
Piug Honda has helmed the fleet in Tokyo since putting the Spaniard in charge of the former 500cc race winner on their factory MotoGP project in January 2018. However, Honda announced in May 2026 that Pugh will step down from the helm and move into a wider role at the outfit.
Now it is confirmed that Puig advises and helps HondaBut Kawase is not in the routine of his factory MotoGP team when he steps up to the top job. Kawasee has been promoted to Honda’s hot seat after they decided to replace Puig from their lineup.
Kawase is expected to be supported David Brivio The Italian is also believed to be joining Honda after confirming his move to the track house. It is said that Brivio focuses on Honda’s wider interests.as he steps down from a trackside management role.
Honda has yet to confirm Brivion’s arrival, but they have announced that Kawase will appoint Puig as MotoGP team manager from 2027. So with that in mind, MotoGP News has looked at everything you need to know about Kawase taking over at Honda.
George Martin thinks Honda and Yamaha will return to form in 2027 👀 How do you think they will fare under the new regulations?
Meet Mikihiko Kawase, Honda’s new MotoGP team manager from 2027
Mikihiko Kawase has taken over as technical manager, a key figure in Honda’s factory MotoGP efforts from 2024. Kawase has been instrumental in leading Honda’s progress towards the end of the 1,000cc regulations era in 2026.
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Honda finished last in the 2023 MotoGP Constructors’ Championship with just 185 points to their account. Marc Marquez scores his only Grand Prix podium in 2023 in Japan with P3. But Kawase was fundamental in developing the RC213V into a machine.
Becoming Honda’s new MotoGP team manager from 2027 after Alberto Puig is elected to step down will see Kawase take on a more public-facing role than he found as the brand’s technical manager. But it’s a position Kawase is proud to have achieved.
Confirming that he will replace Puig at the helm of Honda from 2027, Kawase said: “I am honored to have this opportunity to lead a team with so much history and success.
“I have to thank Honda for this opportunity, and also Alberto Puig, who has been a great mentor and advisor for many years. The support of both will be crucial for the future success of the team.
2027 will see major rule and regulation changes for MotoGP since the championship moved from two-stroke to four-stroke.
“At Honda, we must continue to give our best to start this new era strong and return to the forefront.”
Mikihiko Kawase has worked for HRC since 2012 and has been key to their Moto3 efforts.
Mikihiko Kawase first joined Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in 2011. In 2012, he followed a spell working for the larger Honda company. He first caught the eye of the Japanese brand while working for various parts manufacturers to support his lightweight racing career in Japan.
Kawase competed in Japan’s lightweight division between the ages of 18 and 27, developing a passion for motorcycles at the tender age of 10. This passion paved the way for him to one day join Honda and then HRC in 2012. Moto3 Efforts.
As Honda’s big project leader who worked on the NSF250RW, Kawase eventually guided Lorenzo Dalla Porta on his bike to the dominant Moto3 title for Tiger Racing in 2019. The Italian riding KTM beat Aaron Canet by 79 points.
Dalla Porta took 11 podiums and four wins in 19 races to win the 2019 Moto3 title at Honda. Seeing the results of Kawase’s efforts in Moto3, Honda introduced her to their factory MotoGP project after the 2019 season.
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