Jorge Lorenzo insists its only a matter of time before Honda and Yamaha return to the front of MotoGP.
The two most successful manufacturers in premier-class history have been relegated to the bottom of the MotoGP constructors’ standings ever since 2023.
Together, Honda and Yamaha have won 39 premier-class titles; Honda holding a record 21 and Yamaha tied with MV Agusta on 18.
But a Honda rider hasn’t been crowned champion since 2019 (Marc Marquez) and Yamaha 2021 (Fabio Quartararo), with Ducati winning the last four titles in a row.
In the constructors’ ranking, the Japanese have also slipped behind Aprilia and KTM for the last three seasons in a row, despite benefitting from extra technical concessions.
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Honda then stepped up from concession rank D to C for 2026, but is yet to repeat the podium results of last year.
Yamaha, meanwhile, remains at the rear of the field as it develops its new V4 project.
“Honda and Yamaha always come back”
Previewing the 2026 season, Jorge Lorenzo, who won three MotoGP titles using Yamaha’s former Inline-powered machines, said:
“Sometimes you have to sacrifice short-term results to start a new [V4] project, that is inevitable.
“Yamaha needed to change as soon as possible to get experience and to have a brighter future. So they choose this direction.
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“But I think Honda and Yamaha, they always come back.
“Because they are very powerful, they have a lot of history, a lot of budget. So sooner or later they will be there.
“And we saw [last season] Honda, are getting stronger.”
Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Buriram MotoGP Test.
© Gold and Goose
“In the corners Aprilia are amazing”
The change to new 850cc engines and Pirelli tyres for 2027 is seen as a good opportunity for the Japanese to bridge the gap to the Europeans.
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But with official testing of the next generation machines yet to start, MotoGP riders must take a leap into the unknown when signing contracts for next season.
Lorenzo described reigning champions Ducati as “the safest bet” but spotted Aprilia’s potential while watching trackside during winter testing:
“Aprilia, I like so much, because they lean the bike much more than the rest in the corners.
“It’s like a Moto2 or Moto3 bike. It’s unbelievable how much they lean.
“Also how compact the bike is… In the corners they are amazing.”
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Aprilia has gone on to win all three grands prix with Marco Bezzecchi, plus a Sprint win for Jorge Martin, putting them on top of the world championship standings heading into next weekend’s opening European round.
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