18 Riders Test MotoGP's 2027 Future
MotoGP has completed another major test of its 2027 machinery and new Pirelli tyres, with 18 riders taking to the Red Bull Ring following the Austrian Grand Prix.
All five manufacturers participated, using a combination of their latest 850cc prototypes and adapted current-generation 1000cc machines. Riders tested soft, medium and hard Pirelli slick compounds throughout the private session.
New engines. New tyres. A completely new MotoGP era is getting closer.
Márquez and Acosta Among Riders Testing
Several leading MotoGP names participated, including Marc Márquez, Pedro Acosta, Marco Bezzecchi and Fermín Aldeguer, all of whom had also taken part in the earlier Pirelli test at Brno.
The Austria session was the second and final in-season Pirelli test open to race riders in 2026, providing manufacturers with another crucial opportunity to collect data before development enters its final stages.
850cc Bikes Already Showing Serious Pace
One of the biggest talking points was the performance of the new package.
Early indications suggest the 850cc prototypes running Pirelli tyres are already producing lap times close to the current 1000cc MotoGP machines, despite reduced engine capacity, less aerodynamic freedom and the removal of ride-height devices.
That suggests the performance gap between the two generations could be smaller than expected by the time racing begins.
MotoGP's Biggest Technical Reset Approaches
From 2027, MotoGP engine capacity drops from 1000cc to 850cc, while aerodynamics will be reduced and ride-height and holeshot devices banned. Pirelli will also replace Michelin as MotoGP's official tyre supplier.
For Winbox Racing, the Red Bull Ring test offered another glimpse at what could be the championship's biggest technical transformation in years.
850cc engines. Pirelli tyres. New-generation bikes.
MotoGP 2027 is beginning to take shape.
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