Quiet coup: Manufacturers push F1-style budget cap to slow Honda’s 2027 surge

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Several MotoGP teams are pushing for a budget cap in the top tier of the sport, amid growing concern over Honda’s financial muscle.

After years of decline, the Japanese manufacturer is now in 2026 looking to climb its way back up towards the front of the grid, after picking up C-rank concessions last season.

Even though the RC213V isn’t a race-winner just yet, there’s clear potential in the project — largely thanks to Honda’s financial backing. That’s why some rivals are now pushing for something similar to Formula 1’s budget cap system.

Honda is already talking with Tech3 about joining LCR as a second satellite team. They aim to match Ducati by running six bikes on the grid by 2027, and it underlines just how strong their financial position has become.

Honda budget cap request receives surprising team opposition

Honda is starting to rebuild after a difficult period. They’re expected to be up there with the best again, and that’s a worry for some of the other teams.

Speaking on The Race MotoGP Podcast, journalist Simon Patterson said: “I honestly think that bike is close enough to be competitive, that the new regulation cycle is going to give them the boost that they need, and they’re Honda. They come to win races. Like that’s what they do,” he said.

“Winning races is what Honda have done since 1965, since the first Premier title. It’s what they’re going to continue to do.

“Every other manufacturer in MotoGP, apart from Yamaha, probably, they won’t say it out loud, but they want an F1 price cap, a budget cap just to slow down Honda.

“Because Ducati are selling 50,000 bikes a year, 50,000 Panigales a year to fund their MotoGP project, and Honda is selling 4 million in Indonesia.

“There is so much resource behind what they do, that for me, OK, it might not be ’27, but Honda are going to win again, without a doubt, Honda are going to win, and Honda don’t just win, they dominate.”

Ducati already has six machines racing every weekend through its customer teams (VR46 Racing Team and Gresini Racing), in addition to factory units of Pramac Racing and Desmosedici. The Japanese giants will be matched on the grid by introducing a second factory satellite lineup.