Honda chooses Aleix Espargaro after retirement as official test driver from the 2025 season: he will work alongside Stefan Bradl
The Honda team is looking to expand its performance horizons by signing Aleix Espargaro as a test rider for the 2025 MotoGP season, to help develop the troubled RC213V.
Espargaro’s signing demonstrates the expansion of Honda’s test team, which will be joined by 2011 Moto2 champion Stefan Bradl, who will retain his current role next year.
This is the official team statement: ‘Honda Racing Corporation will strengthen its testing programme with the addition of Aleix Espargaro as a test rider in 2025.
“With almost 250 starts in the premier class, the 34-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience on Grand Prix bikes, as well as the pedigree of three wins and over 1,300 MotoGP points. He will join HRC’s loyal Stefan Bradl to continue the development of the Honda RC213V,” the HRC message read.
Honda, a long way back
Espargaro’s arrival is clearly seen as a huge boost for Honda, which is going through a long decline and struggling to recover from its worst phase ever in motorcycling.
After the exit of eight-time world champion Marc Marquez from Honda, the Japanese team has undergone a radical change, but despite its efforts, this season’s bike has still not managed to place in the top 10 in a Grand Prix and places at the bottom of the manufacturers’ standings. Almost embarrassingly, Luca Marini’s figure: the Italian rider still has zero points in the classification to date.
Honda is hoping to capitalise on the experience of Espargaro, who has managed to turn Aprilia into a successful team. The Spanish rider’s experience and knowledge have played a crucial role in Aprilia’s rise to the top, with the Noale-based team relying on Martin and Bezzecchi for 2025. After announcing his decision to leave Aprilia, and consequently retire from MotoGP during this year’s Spanish Grand Prix, Aleix nevertheless left open the possibility of taking on a different role at another team.
It is not yet clear whether Espargaro will be able to do some wild card work in 2025, but his immediate contribution to Honda will be crucial to the short-term goal of climbing the grid, and his experience will prove essential when development of the 2027 prototype begins, in view of the change in the technical regulations that year.
Photos: Aleix Espargaro, Stefan Bradl
