What we know about MotoGP's secretive first big 2027 test

MotoGP held its first official test on its new for 2027 Pirelli tyres at the start of this week, where some of the grid also had chance to test their new 850cc machines for next season.

It took place amid great secrecy, held behind closed doors at Brno following last weekend’s Czech Grand Prix. We took a trip up a nearby hiking trail to bring The Race Members' Club some additional insight on what could be seen from a public vantage point outside the circuit boundaries.

And there’s nonetheless plenty of information that we’ve been able to gather both on and off the record about the one-day event since then.

Despite being largely sworn to secrecy by current tyre supplier Michelin’s contract with MotoGP, a number of riders did offer some insight on their experiences at Brno when pushed by the media.

Having won three World Superbike championships on Pirellis, Toprak Razgatlioglu was unsurprisingly among those most anticipating the change back to a tyre he knows well - and says feels quite similar to what he’s used to.

"It was positive, and I’m happy after the test," he said. "It’s already positive. Brno isn’t really a hard-braking track, but already I feel confident with the tyre.

"The rear we have incredible grip with. We need to improve something with it, but still we have incredible grip. But the front tyre especially I feel is like the superbike tyre."

That tallies with what The Race has learned across the board from sources in the paddock, with the general consensus being that Pirelli’s new tyres have very much kept their DNA as softer and more neutral than the current Michelins.

And while it seems that grip isn’t a problem - even if it is softer and more likely to require more management during races - there’s been a suggestion from some teams that Pirelli may yet need to work on improving the stiffness of the tyre’s construction to better cope with the power produced by MotoGP machines.

That power, set to be significantly reduced by the cut in engine capacity from 1000cc to 850cc, is something that riders also commented on post-test, with 2020 world champion Joan Mir (who tested despite being unlikely to be a Honda rider next year) keen to point out how much fun to ride the new bikes are, especially without ride height devices.

"The bike is fun," he said. "The corner speed also is higher. The [top] speed obviously is less. And, you know, there's like... A lot of room for improvement, no? In a new project. So it's fantastic.

"What is true is that the style is very different. It's very different. Also the other tyre works in a different way. It's a completely opposite thing.

"So everything is quite new. People will be surprised next year."

And while the riders might be set to enjoy themselves more on the new 850cc machine, Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez, who has considerable experience so far with the new spec, says that he also believes that it’s going to make things more enjoyable for those watching as well.

"Because you're using it without the [ride height] devices and everything," he explained, "that feels more like a real bike, a motorbike, back to riding the bike yourself, not behind the bike and getting stuck on the devices. So for me it's more fun to ride. Less power, a little bit less power… it feels less power but not that much. But yeah, more like a real and natural bike.

"For us as riders, I think it's going to be - and for you to watch us - entertainment. More entertainment, because we can play more with the bike. Maybe because of the tyres as well. But I think we can fight closer and without risk."

No official timing system was running during the test, so any laptimes leaked or being discussed in the paddock would have been taken from manual timing such as on phones - though some riders indicated on Thursday that Ducati and Aprilia remained the benchmark bikes.