Enea Bastianini explains his MotoGP move: Why he is leaving KTM for Aprilia

Just ahead of the MotoGP weekend at MotorLand Aragón, it was confirmed what had been on the cards for weeks: Enea Bastianini is moving from Tech3-KTM to Trackhouse-Aprilia in 2027. Trackhouse confirmed the signing of the former Moto2 World Champion, who is leaving Tech3 after two difficult years and will compete on an Aprilia RS-GP from 2027, at the start of the 850cc era.

For Bastianini , the move also means saying goodbye to a team where he feels at home on a personal level. “I get on really well with everyone in the paddock. That’s why it’s always difficult in a situation like this when you have to move on,” the Italian admitted.

On the track, however, the partnership between Bastianini and KTM never lived up to expectations. The multiple MotoGP winner never really found his feet on the RC16 and has so far been clearly overshadowed by his team-mate Pedro Acosta. It is particularly disappointing for him that the progress he had hoped for failed to materialise even in his second season.

“We didn’t manage to get any faster between last year and this year,” Bastianini noted. “Sometimes we’re fast, but not in every situation. That’s why I’ve decided to move on.”

Aprilia had already won Bastianini over at the season opener

What is particularly surprising is how early the 28-year-old had already made up his mind about Aprilia. Whilst his future had been the subject of speculation for months, Bastianini had apparently already made his decision right at the start of the season. “I decided on my future very early on. It goes back to the first race,” revealed “La Bestia”. The impression the RS-GP made on him was also a decisive factor. “I saw huge potential in the Aprilias and saw my future there.”

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The connection between Bastianini and Aprilia is by no means new. Even before his promotion to MotoGP for the 2021 season, there had been contact between the two sides. Although a partnership didn’t materialise at the time, the lines of communication never completely broke off.

“We’ve had many discussions in the past. That was already the case when I moved from Moto2 to MotoGP,” confirmed Bastianini. This year, things became more concrete: “The discussions intensified. It all started at the first race. We waited a long time before making the announcement. But for me, it was already a done deal.” Bastianini thus also confirms that the announcement that has now been made was merely the official confirmation of a decision that had long since been taken.

New MotoGP era as an additional challenge

Bastianini is making his manufacturer switch at a particularly interesting time. A new technical era is set to begin in MotoGP in 2027. Engine capacity will drop from 1,000 to 850 cc, Pirelli will replace Michelin as the sole tyre supplier, and ride-height devices will be banned.

For Bastianini, this means he will not only have to get used to a new manufacturer; at the same time, the entire field will be starting under largely new conditions.

Die 850er-Aprilia

Foto: Aprilia Racing

Nevertheless, the Italian is optimistic about his first year with Trackhouse. “Next year we’ll have different bikes, different tyres – a lot of things will change. But I think I can be competitive next year.”

Until then, however, he still has several races ahead of him with Tech3-KTM. This weekend in Aragon offers the next opportunity to improve on what has so far been a disappointing season.

Aragon should suit the KTM

In principle, Bastianini reckons he’ll have better chances at MotorLand. “The KTM is usually quicker here. That goes for me as well,” explained the Italian. His memories of last year, however, are mixed: “Last year it was a bit difficult to find the pace. It’s always difficult when you’re caught off guard. But this year it will be different.”

Enea Bastianini

Foto: Gold and Goose

The fact that there is potential was demonstrated most recently at Silverstone. There, Bastianini got off to a strong start but was unable to maintain that level of performance throughout the weekend. “At Silverstone, we were already strong on Friday, but on Saturday things didn’t come together. That’s one of our problems,” he analysed. The Tech3 rider ran into particular difficulties with used tyres: “When we set off on Saturday with used tyres, we had serious problems with the wheels locking up. That’s why I lacked confidence in qualifying.”

That is exactly where Bastianini and his team intend to focus their efforts. “We need to make some changes on Saturday. But I think Aragon could be a good track for us.” The Italian’s sights are therefore already set in two directions: in the short term, he wants to end his time at KTM with better results. His long-term hopes, however, have long been pinned on Aprilia – and apparently have been since the first Grand Prix of the season.