HODGSON BACKS KTM TO SHINE AS YAMAHA REPORTEDLY LAGS IN 850CC TESTING

Neil Hodgson is hoping KTM can make a strong start when MotoGP switches to 850cc machinery next year, while reports from the paddock suggest Yamaha may be behind some rivals in developing its new bike.

Speaking during TNT Sports’ coverage of Malaysian Grand Prix practice, the former rider said he wanted KTM to find success after seeing Pedro Acosta, Enea Bastianini and Brad Binder finish among the top five. “I really want them to have some success,” Hodgson said. “I hope they come out next year and get it right.”

He cautioned that it is too early to know which manufacturer will gain the most from the new regulations. Aprilia’s rise offered a reason not to rule out a surprise, he said: “No one thought, three years ago, that Aprilia would have produced the best MotoGP bike there has ever been, so it is possible.”

Hodgson said he had heard Yamaha was “slightly off” with its 850cc project, while Honda appeared to be making good progress and Ducati’s bike sounded strong. He had heard less about KTM’s development, leaving him “quite intrigued” by what the manufacturer might produce.

The available test results offer an early, though limited, indication of the competition. At the 850cc test held at the Red Bull Ring after September’s Austrian Grand Prix, Honda’s Diogo Moreira set the fastest time. Acosta was second, around half a second behind, with Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi another two-tenths back in third.

Those laps cannot yet establish the true order for next season, but Honda’s pace-setting effort will be encouraging if it can carry that form into the 2027 campaign. With the new rules set to reshape the field, Hodgson’s comments underline how uncertain the competitive picture remains—and why he is watching KTM’s progress closely.