Pirelli completed the second and final in-season MotoGP tyre test at the Red Bull Ring on Monday, with 18 riders evaluating the new slick compounds that will debut as the Italian brand takes over as the series’ exclusive supplier in 2027.
The session featured a mix of 850cc prototypes—the new engine size for next season—and adapted 1000cc bikes. Riders sampled a full range of soft, medium, and hard slicks as Pirelli continues to fine-tune its MotoGP tyre package.
Among those present were returning test participants like Toprak Razgatlioglu, Raul Fernandez, Pedro Acosta, Fermin Aldeguer, Marco Bezzecchi, and Marc Marquez. Notably, outgoing Honda duo Luca Marini and Joan Mir were replaced by Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, while Moto2 rookies Senna Agius and Izan Guevara made their Pirelli test debuts.
MotoGP’s technical overhaul for 2027, including new engines and tyres, means that riders changing teams—such as Pecco Bagnaia, Fabio di Giannantonio, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Jorge Martin, Ai Ogura, and Enea Bastianini—have yet to try the Pirellis, putting them at a potential disadvantage. Pedro Acosta remains the only rider switching manufacturers who attended both Pirelli tests.
Pirelli’s Motorcycle Racing Director Giorgio Barbier hailed the day as “another step forward in the development of the Pirelli range for the 2027 FIM Grand Prix World Championship,” noting the positive feedback on grip and stability and the valuable input from rookies and seasoned riders alike.
The Red Bull Ring test was held behind closed doors with no official timing, and it remains unclear which riders used 850cc or 1000cc machinery. The next major test for all race riders will be the official Valencia session on December 1, immediately after the 2026 season concludes.
As Pirelli continues private development with test riders, the Red Bull Ring outing marks a pivotal moment in MotoGP’s transition to a new tyre era.
