As Motorsport.com reports, the upcoming 2027 ruleset shift in MotoGP is already drawing praise from the riders putting the next-generation 850cc bikes through their paces. While the primary goals of the new regulations are lowering speeds and boosting sustainability, the machines themselves are bringing a massive shift in how these beasts behave on track. Thanks to a smaller engine capacity, a brand-new chassis, trimmed-down aerodynamics, and a switch to Pirelli tyres, the machines are shedding their brutal nature.
For KTM’s test rider Pol Espargaro, the current 1000cc prototypes are simply too wild and heavy. "I would choose the 850. The 1000cc bike is super physical. I feel it’s more dangerous because it's much more powerful," he explained, pointing out that current Michelin tyres must be built rock-hard to handle massive corner-exit torque. With the 850, Espargaro notes that everything shifts: the bike is lighter, and the tyres can be much softer because the chassis isn't torturing them.
Takaaki Nakagami, now a test rider for the Japanese manufacturer after racing for Lcr Honda until 2024, pointed to the tyre change as the biggest factor for 2027. Asked if the new bikes are more fun, he was direct: "For me, yes, I like it more than the 1000cc." He loves that he no longer has to think about the rear height device, calling the new setup simpler and more naturally pitching despite still utilizing smaller aerodynamics.
Honda rider Luca Marini believes the 850cc machines feel remarkably similar to the current Moto2 machinery powered by Triumph’s 765cc three-cylinder engines and running on Pirelli rubber. Marini, who will race for Tech3 KTM next year, thinks this will hand a massive advantage to riders moving up directly from the intermediate class next year, specifically naming Izan Guevara, Daniel Holgado, Senna Agius, and David Alonso.
Outgoing Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales echoed those sentiments after turning his first laps on KTM’s 2027 contender at Spielberg last month, calling the new breed a "Moto2 machine with a good engine." Despite still recovering from a previous injury, Vinales managed eleven laps in a row as if it were nothing, praising the beautiful, easy feeling of the bike.
