Senna Agius to Tech3: Why Moto2 Leader Gonzalez Misses Out

• Senna Agius will ride for Tech3 alongside Luca Marini from 2027
• The Australian takes over the seat left by Maverick Vinales
• With 22 riders confirmed, the 2027 grid is now complete

The wait is over. On Wednesday morning ahead of the race weekend at Spielberg from 18 to 20 September, Tech3 announced the signing of Senna Agius. The Australian steps up from Moto2 to MotoGP and will race for the French team from 2027. Behind the scenes the move had been considered a done deal for several weeks. With the official confirmation, the rider market for the new 850cc era is now closed. Agius is the last of the 22 full-time riders whose contract has been made public.

Who is Senna Agius?

Senna Agius is an Australian road racer from Camden in New South Wales who currently rides for the German Intact GP team in Moto2. He is one of the fastest young riders in the intermediate class.

Unlike many MotoGP riders, Agius did not come up through Moto3. His route ran through the Moto2 European Championship. He finished runner-up there in 2022 and won the title a year later. In 2024 he moved into the Moto2 World Championship with Intact GP and stood on the podium in his very first season.

Since then he has established himself at the front. In total, Agius has won four Moto2 Grands Prix. This season he took victories in Austin and Jerez, adding podium finishes in Hungary and Assen. Most recently he put his bike on pole position at Misano, only to be taken out at the first corner by another rider. That retirement dropped him to fourth in the standings. Right behind him sit David Alonso and Daniel Holgado, who will also move up to MotoGP in 2027.

Speaking in the Sachsenring paddock in July, Agius put his progress this year down above all to mental work. He said he had become far more stable under pressure and in difficult moments. He summed up his motto in the garage like this: “Easy racing is fast racing.”

Why did Tech3 sign Agius rather than Manuel Gonzalez?

The deciding factors appear to have been Agius’ younger age and his nationality. On results alone, the case clearly favours Manuel Gonzalez.

The final Tech3 seat was contested for much of the season by two riders from the same team. Gonzalez has led the Moto2 championship since round three and is currently 83.5 points ahead of Agius. In 14 Grands Prix the Spaniard has collected five wins and nine podiums. After the summer break it nevertheless became clear that Agius would get the nod.

One reason is age. Gonzalez is 24, Agius several years younger. Tech3 evidently sees more room to grow in him. Then there is nationality. Jack Miller leaves MotoGP at the end of the season for the Superbike World Championship. Without Agius, there would have been no Australian left on the grid. At the same time David Alonso, Daniel Holgado and Izan Guevara are all moving up from Moto2 — three more Spaniards. From a marketing point of view, another Spanish rider would have added less than a new Australian.

That matters in particular with a view to the new MotoGP race in Adelaide, scheduled to be held for the first time in 2027. Agius is likely to be the only Australian in the field. The signing is also said to have been a personal decision by Guenther Steiner. The former team principal of the Haas Formula 1 outfit now runs Tech3 as CEO.

Agius himself did not see his nationality as an advantage back in July. At the time he stressed that only his performances on track would decide his chance: “It doesn’t matter which country I come from.” Gonzalez is now left without a MotoGP contract, just as in 2025. Everything points to a third Moto2 season with Intact GP.

What do Agius and the Tech3 bosses say about the move?

Agius talks about a lifelong dream coming true. Tech3 praises above all his attitude and his willingness to keep improving.

In the team’s press release, Agius puts it like this: “Today, a lifelong dream of mine has come true: reaching MotoGP. So many years of hard work have gone into this moment, and I’m incredibly grateful to Guenther and everyone at Tech3 for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”

He also knows what lies ahead: “I know the challenge ahead, but I’m ready to learn, work hard, and become the best version of myself with this team.” He also thanked his family, his friends and all the teams, engineers and mechanics he has worked with so far.

Guenther Steiner expects a strong start from his new signing. Raw speed alone was not the reason: “He has shown impressive speed and maturity in Moto2, but what really stood out to us was his determination to keep improving and his attitude towards the work required to succeed.”

Steiner also explains the thinking behind the rider pairing: “We are building a team for a completely new era of MotoGP, and we wanted to combine experience with young talent.” The experience comes from Luca Marini, the young talent from Agius. Steiner concedes that the Australian still has a lot to learn. The team intends to support him through it.

Team manager Nicolas Goyon points out that Agius is still young and has plenty of development potential. He describes him as eager to learn and hard-working, and notes that he has already shown in Moto2 that he can run at the front. Goyon sees the timing of the step up as both a challenge and an opportunity: “Starting MotoGP with completely new regulations and machinery will be a big challenge for every rider, but it also gives us an opportunity to build something together from the beginning.”

How long is Senna Agius’ contract with Tech3?

Tech3 has not published the length of the deal. The announcement only refers to his arrival from the 2027 season.

A contract of at least two years is considered likely. A rookie normally needs time to adapt to MotoGP, and a longer deal would give Agius that room. Officially, however, none of this is confirmed. Tech3 works closely with KTM’s factory racing department and will continue to run the Austrian manufacturer’s bikes as a customer team in 2027.

What does the move mean for Maverick Vinales?

For Maverick Vinales, the end of his MotoGP career at the close of the season is now settled. Agius takes his place at Tech3.

Vinales is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. He will again be replaced by Pol Espargaro at KTM’s home race in Spielberg. Whether the Spaniard gets back on a MotoGP machine at all this year is an open question. He is not the only well-known rider leaving the class after this season. Jack Miller, Franco Morbidelli, Brad Binder and Alex Rins will also be absent from the MotoGP grid in 2027.

Which rookies will line up in MotoGP in 2027?

Five newcomers will be on the grid in 2027: Senna Agius, David Alonso, Daniel Holgado, Izan Guevara and Nicolo Bulega. Four of them come from Moto2, while Bulega switches from the Superbike World Championship.

For MotoGP, 2027 is a year of upheaval. The rider market has produced a clear generational change, with several experienced riders making way for young talent. With the confirmation of Agius, all 22 riders are now set. One question remains open, however: Honda has yet to decide whether David Alonso or Diogo Moreira takes the seat in the HRC Castrol factory team. The other is set to ride for LCR Honda. A decision could come in Austria, though Honda’s home race at Motegi is considered more likely.

Why is 2027 a good moment to step up to MotoGP?

From 2027 MotoGP runs to a completely new set of technical regulations with 850cc engines and Pirelli tyres. That puts every rider and team back to zero, which could make life easier for newcomers.

The new engines are smaller and less powerful than the current ones. At the same time MotoGP switches to Pirelli tyres, which are already used in Moto2. Rookies such as Agius therefore already know these tyres. Settling into the premier class should be quicker than in previous years.

When Agius will first sit on the new machine is not yet known. A first run on the 850cc KTM at the upcoming test day at the Red Bull Ring is a possibility.

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