AGIUS MARVELS AT KTM’S POWER AND BRAKING AFTER MOTOGP TEST DEBUT

Senna Agius says his first ride on a MotoGP bike felt surprisingly natural, even as the KTM’s power and braking made clear how different the premier class is from Moto2.

The Australian tried the prototype at the Red Bull Ring on the Monday after the Austrian Grand Prix. The test came days after Tech3 confirmed he would join the team for the 2027 season. Agius had endured a difficult race weekend, crashing in both qualifying and the Grand Prix, but the chance to sample MotoGP machinery lifted his spirits.

Speaking to Fox Sports Australia at Motegi, the 21-year-old said he quickly felt at home on the bike. “I actually really gelled well, and I felt like I fit on the bike and I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel too much, it came naturally,” he said.

The engine’s output was the first major difference he noticed. Agius was also struck by the seamless gearbox, which shifts without the drop in revs he was used to on other motorcycles. “It feels like the clutch is slipping, but you’re still pulling in sixth gear,” he explained. He compared the jump between fifth and sixth on a MotoGP bike to the change from first to second on a conventional combustion engine, adding that the power builds at the top end in a way he found “scary.”

The carbon brakes provided another lesson in the demands of the class. On the out lap, before they reached operating temperature, Agius said they felt ineffective, “like brake failure.” Once warm, however, they delivered an abrupt bite and impressive stopping power.

He was particularly surprised by how much force reached the front tyre with relatively little effort at the lever. “It took me a while to realise just how much force is on the tyre,” he said. Despite the speed and braking demands, he was able to brake comfortably with one finger in Austria, describing the machine as feeling as though it was travelling at twice the speed of a Moto2 bike. “It’s just a different world,” he said.

Agius is taller than the average rider, a physical trait that has led some, including Casey Stoner, to suggest he could suit a larger motorcycle. His test impressions offered an encouraging first indication of how he might adapt, though the experience also highlighted the scale of the step into MotoGP. He is due to make that move with Tech3 in 2027, when the championship’s new technical regulations will bring a fresh start for teams and riders.