Pedro Acosta Is About To Test a KTM's New MotoGP Bike. But He’s Going to Ducati
You don't see this often.
MotoGP is going through the silliest season I've ever seen. The rider market is insane, with many moves for 2027 being decided or nearly decided before the 2026 season even started. I believe this creates its own issues between riders and teams, but since we're on the eve of a totally new ruleset for MotoGP bikes, some teams are in a precarious position.
Next year, all MotoGP bikes will run reduced aerodynamics packages and 850cc engines, which is the biggest technical shakeup since 2012, when the capacity limit was raised from 800cc to 1000cc. The problem is, teams need to develop these machines with the sharpest riders they have, but giving riders who are about to switch teams detailed information about the new bikes isn't preferable.
Instead of keeping Pedro Acosta away from the 2027 KTM MotoGP prototype, since he's going to Ducati's factory team next season, the Austrian brand is letting him ride the bike in Monday's Brno test. The test at Brno isn't just to develop KTM's 2027 challenger, but also the first chance riders will get to use the Pirelli rubber, replacing the Michelins they currently run.
All Things MotoGP
Acosta is KTM's lead rider, but he'll be joined by Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa, the brand's test riders. Originally, no brand was going to let riders test their bikes if said riders were switching teams in 2027, but KTM is the second brand, after Honda, to go against those norms.
Earlier this week, Honda announced that it'd let Joan Mir and Luca Marini ride the 2027 prototype. Mir is expected to leave Honda for Grisini Racing, while Marini's future remains a mystery.
The question is, are we seeing a trend toward brands becoming more lax when it comes to testing, or is this a result of manufacturers worrying about entering the next generation of MotoGP with the best possible machines?
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
This New Ducati Dirt Bike Revs To 15,000 RPM. Mama Mia!
KTM Affirms Its MotoGP Future. Comes After Rumored Exit
This Ducati Is Worth Up To $120,000. Its Owner Still Had The Nerve To Paint It Green
Brembo's New India Venture Reveals How Modern Motorcycles Really Get Made
This Is The First Street-Legal Enduro Dirt Bike From Ducati. It Looks Spectacular, and Very Red
Trying Zero's New EV Dirt Bikes Off-Road Has Never Been Easier, As Company Begins Offering Demos
Ducati Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With 10 Limited-Edition Ultra-Special Models, And Here They Are