As his former Aprilia team made headlines with the launch of its 2025 MotoGP project in Italy, Aleix Espargaro has been in action for HRC at Buriram, giving fans a glimpse of Honda’s future prospects. Following his retirement from racing, Espargaro swiftly transitioned to his new role as a test rider for Honda, with recent outings at Barcelona, Jerez, and now Buriram.
In an exciting development for the Japanese manufacturer, Romano Albesiano, the newly appointed HRC technical director, joined Espargaro at the Buriram circuit this week. Albesiano, who previously collaborated with Espargaro to develop the Aprilia RS-GP into a MotoGP race-winning machine, made his track debut for HRC after being unavailable for the Barcelona and Jerez tests due to his ongoing contract with Aprilia.
Albesiano’s presence in Thailand marks a significant milestone in his new role with Honda. Espargaro posted a picture on Instagram during the second day of the private Buriram test, teasing the latest RC213V, Honda’s flagship bike for the upcoming 2025 season.
The decision to test at Buriram is somewhat unexpected, as it has not been a typical venue for private MotoGP tests. However, The 2025 MotoGP calendar will feature Buriram as a key part, with the Thai circuit slated to host the opening round of the season as well as the official pre-season test scheduled for February 12-13. This private test could be a strategic move by HRC to fine-tune components ahead of the official tests in Sepang, Malaysia, which begin on January 31 (Shakedown) and February 5 (official test).
The high temperatures and demanding conditions of the Buriram circuit mean that Michelin has provided special heat-resistant tyres, designed to withstand the stress placed on the tyres at the venue.
Fellow former full-time rider Takaaki Nakagami joins Espargaro at the Buriram test, as both continue their preparations for the upcoming season. While all four factory Honda riders can participate in the Shakedown at Sepang, Honda may opt to conserve testing tyres and only send Thai rookie Somkiat Chantra to the Sepang track ahead of the official Malaysian test.
Joan Mir and Luca Marini, factory riders for HRC, are likely to miss part of the Shakedown, As their team launch takes place in Indonesia on February 1, the second day of the Sepang test. Other teams, including Yamaha, will also hold their team launches during the early days of the test.
The private Buriram test is another step in HRC’s preparation for the 2025 MotoGP season, and with new technical leadership and Espargaro’s insights, the team is setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.
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