KTM test rider Espargaro: 2027 MotoGP bikes will be a completely different category
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro, after returning to racing at the Silverstone round, compared the current 1000cc MotoGP bikes with next year's new 850cc machines, highlighting major differences in riding feel and physical demands. He also predicts the new rules could reduce injuries.
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro, who recently returned to MotoGP competition at the Silverstone round, has shared his impressions of the differences between the current bikes and next year's new machinery. Starting with the 2027 season, MotoGP will switch to 850cc engines and Pirelli tyres, replacing the current 1000cc bikes running on Michelin tyres.
Espargaro admitted that after years of riding 1000cc machinery, testing the new model made him feel like a rookie again. He said he has to relearn braking points, stopping efficiency and racing lines, as well as adapt to unfamiliar torque delivery from fourth gear upward.
Less physical strain
Comparing the physical demands of the two generations of machinery, the Spanish rider said that with the new 850cc bike and Pirelli tyres, it is possible to race two events back to back with far less physical strain. In contrast, he said the current 1000cc bikes with Michelin tyres push heart rate to extreme levels after just a couple of laps, describing the current level of performance as extremely brutal.
Fewer injuries expected
Regarding the upcoming rule changes, which include a ban on ride-height devices and restrictions on aerodynamics, Espargaro expressed hope that the new category will be more fluid and that riders will suffer fewer injuries.
He also noted that Ducati could have an advantage during the transition, given its extensive experience in Superbike racing, since the new 850cc MotoGP bikes will reportedly resemble Superbikes more closely than the current machinery.
