Pirelli Test Spielberg: Honda on Top, the 850s Set 1000cc Times

• 18 riders from all five manufacturers tested Pirelli’s 2027 tyres at the Red Bull Ring on 21 September
• Moreira unofficially lapped in 1:28.4, around one second quicker than Sunday’s fastest race lap
• Seven established regular riders will only ride on Pirelli tyres for the first time at the Valencia test on 1 December

One day after the Austrian Grand Prix, MotoGP took to the track in Spielberg once more. This time it was not about championship points but about the future. From 2027, Pirelli replaces Michelin as the premier class’s sole tyre supplier. At the same time, the new regulations come into force: 850 instead of 1000 cubic centimetres, less aerodynamics and a ban on ride-height devices. These are systems that riders use to lower the motorcycle at the start and under acceleration. As in Brno back in June, the MotoGP test in Spielberg took place behind closed doors. There was no official timing and the bikes ran without transponders. Nevertheless, unofficial lap times have emerged. They give a first impression of where the manufacturers stand a few months before the rule change.

Who was fastest at the Pirelli test in Spielberg?

Diogo Moreira was fastest on the new 850cc Honda. The LCR rider set an unofficial time of 1:28.4 on a soft rear tyre.

It was Moreira’s first outing on the 850. He had not been part of the Brno test. The tyres, however, were not entirely new to him. The reigning Moto2 world champion knows the Pirelli tyres from two years in the intermediate class.

Behind him came Pedro Acosta on the 850cc KTM. His time was just under 1:29, at 1:28.8 or 1:28.9 depending on the source. He also used the soft compound. Johann Zarco was also riding the 850cc Honda for the first time and managed around 1:29.0 to 1:29.1.

Marco Bezzecchi lapped the new Aprilia in 1:29.1. However, he is said to have set his best time on the hard tyre. His time can therefore only be compared with the others to a limited extent. Reports differ for Fermin Aldeguer on the Ducati. They range from a high 1:28 to a low 1:29.

Franco Morbidelli, Raul Fernandez and Marc Marquez were in the range of 1:29.4 to 1:29.6. Marquez, however, only completed a few laps. He is focusing on the title fight with the current Ducati GP26 on Michelin tyres. Yamaha riders Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu posted times between 1:30 and 1:30.5.

All times should be treated with caution. Without official timing, errors are possible. In addition, it is not clear for every lap which tyre compound was used.

Are the 850s already faster than the current 1000s?

The unofficial times suggest that the 850s are at least on the level of the current machines. Moreira was around one second faster than the fastest race lap of the Grand Prix the day before.

The fastest lap in Sunday’s race was set by winner Pedro Acosta on lap four with 1:29.533. Moreira’s own best race lap was 1:30.067. On the 850, he was therefore around 1.5 seconds faster. He was only about half a second off Jorge Martin’s pole time. Martin had lapped in 1:27.917 on Saturday on the 1000 with Michelin tyres. Several other riders also went below the fastest race lap during the test.

A test on fresh, soft tyres is, however, something different from a lap in the race with a full tank. Nevertheless, the direction is clear. One of the main goals of the new regulations was to make the motorcycles slower. Should the times from Spielberg be confirmed, this goal would be missed, at least in terms of lap times.

Which riders took part in the Spielberg test?

A total of 18 regular and test riders from all five manufacturers were on track, including several future rookies. Some rode the 850cc prototypes and some adapted 1000cc machines.

Honda fielded Johann Zarco, Diogo Moreira and test rider Takaaki Nakagami. The two LCR riders replaced factory riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini, who leave Honda at the end of the year. Zarco and Moreira, on the other hand, have contracts for 2027. At Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jack Miller, Izan Guevara and test rider Augusto Fernandez rode. Ducati sent Marc Marquez, Franco Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer out on track. Aprilia was represented by Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez and test rider Lorenzo Savadori. KTM had the biggest line-up with Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Pol Espargaro, Maverick Vinales and Senna Agius.

Acosta played a special role. One day after his first MotoGP win, he rode the 850cc KTM again, even though he moves to Ducati in 2027. KTM has four new riders for next season. None of them was allowed to test the new machine with their current employer. That is why KTM relied on Acosta, test rider Pol Espargaro and Moto2 rider Agius. Acosta is the only rider switching manufacturers who took part in both Pirelli tests. Espargaro crashed in the chicane, the only crash of the day.

For Jack Miller, Brad Binder and Franco Morbidelli, it was their first outing on MotoGP’s Pirelli tyres. All three move to the World Superbike Championship in 2027, where Michelin will then supply the tyres. Morbidelli stood in for Nicolo Bulega. Bulega skipped the test to focus on a possible title win in the World Superbike Championship in Cremona. Morbidelli will take his place in the Aruba Ducati factory team in 2027.

According to current information, 13 of the 18 riders rode the 850cc prototypes and five rode adapted 1000s. Pirelli has not officially confirmed this split. Maverick Vinales was out on an adapted 1000cc KTM and managed 1:29.2. He also tested his injured shoulder. Vinales hopes to return at the Japanese Grand Prix in early October. Moto2 riders Senna Agius and Izan Guevara also rode adapted 1000s. Both move up to MotoGP in 2027, Agius with Tech3 KTM and Guevara with Pramac Yamaha.

Where do the manufacturers stand ahead of the 2027 rule change?

Honda is ahead after the test, closely followed by Aprilia, Ducati and KTM. Yamaha is further behind.

At Honda, the work on aerodynamics stands out. The engineers are apparently trying to extract as much downforce as possible from the narrower front fairing of the 850. Aprilia is also working hard on aerodynamics. At the end of the front wing of the new RS-GP sits a three-part element. It is designed to increase downforce so that the front wheel lifts less and the bike turns in better. Bezzecchi was the fastest Aprilia rider, ahead of Raul Fernandez and Savadori.

The 850cc Ducati still looks very similar to the current 1000. From the outside, it is mainly distinguished by its narrower and smaller front fairing. Whether Ducati will show more significant changes by Valencia remains to be seen. As usual, KTM ran with a camouflaged fairing. The front wings resemble those of the current Honda, plus there were new aerodynamic parts on the seat.

At Yamaha, the test raises questions. As in Brno, Yamaha is said to have run the 850cc engine in the current M1. Razgatlioglu, Miller and Augusto Fernandez tested the new engine and aerodynamic parts for 2027. All three were a second or more behind the fastest times. Whether Yamaha really is behind or will only show a new machine later will become clear in Valencia at the earliest.

What does Pirelli say about the test?

Pirelli draws a positive conclusion. The riders’ feedback praised above all the grip and stability of the tyres.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli’s motorcycle racing director, says: “The feedback collected was positive overall.” He also points out that the rookies in particular, with their different riding styles, provided valuable input. The findings are intended to help define the characteristics of the 2027 tyre range ever more precisely. In addition to joint tests such as the one in Spielberg, the development programme also includes private test sessions that Pirelli coordinates closely with the manufacturers.

The weather was stable and sunny. The track temperature ranged between 19 and 38 degrees Celsius, allowing the tyres to be tested over a wide range. Pirelli brought slicks in soft, medium and hard compounds, each for front and rear. The teams were free to plan their own programme. Pirelli recommended starting with the soft tyres and then working up to the harder compounds.

How could the Pirelli tyres change the races?

The minimum tyre pressure rule will remain in place with Pirelli. What could change more, however, is how the tyres drop off over the course of a race.

Pirelli is sticking to the minimum pressure primarily for safety reasons. Anyone who does not comply with the values will continue to be penalised. The Michelin tyres, which have been used in MotoGP since 2016, usually deliver fairly consistent performance over race distance. In the World Superbike Championship, where Pirelli has been the sole supplier for more than 20 years, grip often drops off noticeably during the race. Tyre management becomes an important factor there for riders, set-up and strategy.

Whether this philosophy will also come to MotoGP is still open. The power and aerodynamics of the 850s require their own solutions. Something is also set to change visually: as in Formula 1, the tyre sidewalls are expected to be colour-coded according to compound. In return, Michelin moves to the World Superbike Championship in 2027.

Why were Bagnaia, Quartararo and other regular riders missing?

Riders who switch manufacturers for the 2027 season were not allowed to test the new machines. That is why they will only ride on Pirelli tyres for the first time in Valencia.

This affects Francesco Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Martin, Alex Marquez, Ai Ogura, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini. Added to this are rookies David Alonso and Daniel Holgado, who do, however, know the Pirelli tyres from Moto2.

Bastianini, who moves to Trackhouse Aprilia in 2027, would have liked to test. He says he asked KTM whether he could at least try the tyres, but was turned down. His demand is clear: “It was better to be mandatory for everybody.” The adapted 1000s in Spielberg show that a compromise would have been possible. The riders could have got to know the tyres without seeing the 2027 machines.

Bastianini also points out that it will be difficult to form a picture of the Pirelli tyres in just one day in Valencia. There, the cool weather is likely to limit track time further. He sees an advantage for the riders stepping up from Moto2 and for Bulega, who comes from the World Superbike Championship. The 2027 rookies also get two additional test days at the Sepang shakedown.

When will all MotoGP riders test the Pirelli tyres?

On 1 December in Valencia, the first test with the complete 2027 rider line-up takes place. There will also be official timing for the first time.

Until then, the test teams continue their work. On 7 and 8 October, Aprilia, Ducati, KTM and Yamaha test with their test riders in Jerez. On 14 and 15 October, a test follows in Sepang, where Honda will run with Aleix Espargaro. The Spaniard is fit again after his injury and is set to push development of the 850cc Honda further.

Valencia then marks the start of a reduced programme with five official winter test days. Only there can it really be compared how fast the new motorcycles and tyres are head to head. The Spielberg test is one of the last steps before the 2027 season, in which engine capacity, aerodynamics, ride-height devices and tyre supplier all change at the same time.

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