David Alonso on 2027: “Sometimes the best option isn’t the easy one”

Things didn’t go to plan for David Alonso at Silverstone. He struggled throughout the weekend and finished the Moto2 race on British soil in just 21st place. In the upcoming races, the Aspar rider aims to fight for top positions again so that he can bid farewell to the Moto2 World Championship on a high note.

As a reminder, on 21 July, HRC announced the signing of Alonso for the 2027 MotoGP season. Although it is not yet clear which team he will ride for – Honda HRC Castrol or LCR Honda – his promotion to the premier class next season marks the fulfilment of a dream for him.

“I’m very proud and happy. The priority now is to do a good job in my final Moto2 races. But I’m really delighted with the contract I’ve signed and the trust Honda has placed in me.” Alonso has signed a multi-year works contract with HRC – a huge deal for a rookie. “That’s brilliant. Honda is the brand that has racked up the most victories in history and sells the most motorbikes worldwide.”

In recent years, the Japanese manufacturer has had little success in the premier class of the World Motorcycle Championship. They’d lost touch with the frontrunners – European manufacturers such as Ducati and Aprilia are currently setting the standard. Honda is working hard and investing enormous resources to close the gap, and the RC213V has already been significantly improved. In 2027, when the new MotoGP rules come into force, the cards will be reshuffled. “Sometimes the best option isn’t the easy one. We have to think long-term,” Alonso explained.

David Alonso: “I think the changes will be good for us”

Next year, Pirelli will become the new tyre supplier for MotoGP. After two years in the Moto2 World Championship and plenty of experience with Pirelli tyres, Alonso won’t be starting from scratch in 2027 – the transition won’t be as drastic as it was in the past, when riders in the middle category had to adapt to Michelin tyres, the devices and the enormous power of the 1000cc prototypes. “The tyres will be the biggest change in MotoGP. For us rookies, everything will still be new, but I think the changes will be good for us. It’ll be interesting,” emphasised the 20-year-old.

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“Perhaps Pirelli will make the tyres harder – if not, we might not be able to finish the races,” Alonso said with a smile. The Colombian has already experienced a change of tyre manufacturer in the lower classes. “When we switched from Dunlop to Pirelli back then, I can say from my own experience that it has a major impact on how you enter a corner or how you maintain your lean angle. What’s more, tyre wear is different. Next year it won’t be the same experience for me because it’s a different motorbike, but some things will be similar.”

Does Alonso feel ready for next year? “Yes. It will be important to act professionally both on and off the track in the second half of this season – to prepare myself well for next year.” The 2024 Moto3 World Champion has been riding for the Aspar team since 2023 – two years in Moto3 and now his second year in Moto2. Jorge Martinez’s Spanish team is very professionally run and is regarded as one of the best training grounds for young talent. Alonso has learnt a great deal there for his personal development. “It’s a good team and a good training ground. The stability they’ve given me over all these years has been very important,” David Alonso is convinced.