Honda Moves Up to Rank C After Valencia GP: Signs of a MotoGP Resurgence?

Honda wrapped up the 2025 MotoGP season with a shift that feels bigger than it looks on paper. Moving from concession Rank D to Rank C after Valencia signals that something is finally heading in the right direction. Luca Marini’s seventh-place finish delivered the exact points needed to trigger the upgrade, and Honda also ended the year fourth in the Constructors’ table with a far stronger points tally than before. Across the season, the team kept its scoring steady, avoided major drops, and showed signs of a clearer improvements. The move into Rank C now changes how Honda operates in 2026, with fewer support tools but more proof that the project is stabilising.

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Honda’s jump to Rank C also comes with a trade-off. The team now loses some private testing with its race riders and fewer development chances through the year. Under the current concessions layout, the bottom-ranked teams get extra help through more testing days, more flexible engine rules, and wildcard entries. Moving up removes some of that safety net. Still, with a long race calendar ahead, Honda may find that real-race mileage compensates for the reduced test days.

All Honda riders played a part in moving the Japanese factory forward through steady points and improved pace across key rounds. The race win in Le Mans from Zarco and Mir, along with Marini’s consistent scoring, gave Honda the stability it had been missing for a long time. This collective output helped settle the team’s season and supported the climb up the concession ladder. With the season now complete, Honda has already shifted focus to 2026, working to carry this momentum forward and continue reducing the gap to the front.

MotoGP Concessions System

The MotoGP concessions system, updated in 2024, sorts manufacturers into Ranks A to D based on their points share over a set period. Factories in Rank D operate with maximum allowances, including open testing and expanded engine use. Those in Rank A work under standard limits with reduced flexibility. Honda’s move from Rank D to Rank C demonstrates the intended progression within this structure, rewarding improvement while tightening technical freedoms for developing teams. The policy seeks to maintain balance, ensuring competitive parity while limiting advantages for factories showing growth.

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The promotion in the concessions system sets up a tougher road for Honda, putting more pressure on internal execution and how well the team uses its resources. Whether this jump turns into long-term progress or just a short lift now depends on how Honda builds its 2026 campaign under these tighter limits.