MotoGP test in Brno: What tyre manufacturer Pirelli has to say about the 850cc test run

In 2027, Pirelli will become the new tyre supplier for the premier class of the World Motorcycle Championship. An important milestone in the preparations for next season took place on 22 June. Immediately after the Czech Grand Prix, all five manufacturers tested the 850cc prototypes fitted with Pirelli tyres, alongside their regular MotoGP riders and test riders. The riders were Marc Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, Joan Mir, Luca Marini, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Augusto Fernandez, Pedro Acosta, Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro (as reported by SPEEDWEEK.com).

Pirelli arrived in Brno with a large team and 400 tyres in tow. The test programme had been agreed in advance with the manufacturers and the IRTA team association and comprised various schedules. Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, Honda and Yamaha each had two motorcycles in action – 850cc bikes as well as current 1000cc prototypes, which had been restricted or modified to simulate the new configurations.

Raul Fernandez

Foto: David Ulrich

Toprak Razgatlioglu

Foto: David Ulrich

Luca Marini

Foto: David Ulrich

Fermin Aldeguer

Foto: David Ulrich

Dani Pedrosa auf der KTM mit Tarnkleid

Foto: David Ulrich

Augusto Fernandez

Foto: David Ulrich

Marco Bezzecchi

Foto: David Ulrich

Marc Marquez

Foto: David Ulrich

Marc Marquez mit der 850er-Ducati beim Brünn-Test

Foto: David Ulrich

Pol Espargaro

Foto: David Ulrich

Raul Fernandez

© David Ulrich

Pirelli and the manufacturers were able to gather a great deal of valuable data during the Brno test. According to Pirelli, the participation of the regular riders made it possible to link the information gathered during earlier tests with up-to-date feedback on performance levels in MotoGP. This provided useful insights that would help in defining the tyres developed for the new generation of motorcycles.

“I would like to thank the riders and manufacturers for their cooperation and the enthusiasm they showed during this crucial test on our journey towards MotoGP 2027,” said Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli’s Director of Motorcycle Racing, after the test. “The programmes were demanding, as there were numerous solutions to evaluate following a race weekend characterised by high temperatures and just a few days before the next Grand Prix. Following the private test sessions, which until now had been conducted exclusively with test riders, we were finally able to gather useful feedback in Brno from some of the regular riders on the 2027 tyres for the future 850cc machines.”

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Das Pirelli-Team in Brünn

Foto: Pirelli

Giorgio Barbier continued: “All manufacturers completed the agreed programmes – with different schedules for the two machines to maximise data collection. Some riders also carried out sprint simulations as well as sessions over the full race distance. Collaboration with the riders and manufacturers remains extremely constructive, and developments are proceeding according to plan. The data collected during the test, together with that from the upcoming private test sessions, as well as from the test in September following the Austrian Grand Prix and the season-ending test in Valencia, will play a decisive role in determining the final characteristics of the tyre range for 2027.”

At the Brno test, the fastest lap times were in the 1:54 min range. By way of comparison: Ai Ogura’s (Aprilia) pole time during the race weekend was 1:51.139 min. The fastest race lap was set by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati) with a time of 1:53.122 min. It is likely that lap times at the 2027 Czech Republic Grand Prix, with the 850cc bikes, will no longer be far off those of the 1000cc bikes.

Marc Marquez mit Giorgio Barbier

Foto: Pirelli

Monday’s MotoGP test in Brno was the first of three test sessions scheduled for this season featuring regular MotoGP riders. The next ones will take place on the Monday following the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, and on the Tuesday following the season finale in Valencia.

Pirelli’s debut in MotoGP took place in 2025 at Misano, on the Tuesday following the San Marino Grand Prix. That was when the test riders first put the Pirelli tyres through their paces. This was followed by numerous private test sessions, also with test riders, to continue the development work.