BEIRER SAYS BULEGA’S 2027 TESTING EDGE WILL FADE QUICKLY

KTM says Pedro Acosta’s extra time on its 2027 MotoGP prototype at the Red Bull Ring was intended to help develop the bike, despite his move to the factory Ducati team next season. The Spaniard rode the 850cc machine on Pirelli tyres during the post-race test, after KTM had agreed to give him another opportunity before the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

“We spoke last week, and we decided to let Pedro ride the bike,” KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer said. The team wanted feedback from its current leading rider as it continued work begun by test rider Pol Espargaro, who had produced a strong result at an earlier Mugello test. Beirer described the goal as getting a benchmark from “the best rider we have at the moment in the group.” Unofficial reports placed Acosta joint second-fastest at the Red Bull Ring test, behind Honda’s Diogo Moreira.

KTM was the only manufacturer to put a rider bound for a rival team on its prototype at the Austrian venue. Honda had previously let departing riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini try its 850cc bike at Brno. Meanwhile, nine riders expected on the 2027 grid—including KTM’s future factory pairing, Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio—must wait until the Valencia test after the season finale for their first MotoGP laps on Pirelli tyres.

Beirer acknowledged that riders will not enter the new era with equal preparation. “It’s a transition stage now, and that will happen,” he said. “You cannot make it easily fair, because of course, if riders change team, not everybody will get the chance.”

The most striking head start belongs to Nicolo Bulega, who is set to join VR46 Ducati. His WorldSBK experience with Pirelli, combined with substantial development mileage on Ducati’s 850cc machine, has prompted KTM test rider Espargaro to call the potential advantage “unfair.” Beirer conceded Ducati appears to have “a really nice package together,” with Bulega bringing tyre knowledge while working on the new bike.

However, Beirer expects that edge to fade quickly once the full field and manufacturers begin testing. “It’s a very short period, I think, where this advantage will remain,” he said, predicting rapid progress as teams work with their riders and test crews. KTM, he added, has experienced testers Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa preparing its machine for the race riders.

The Sepang Shakedown rules will not be loosened to give established MotoGP riders extra access: participation will remain limited to rookies and test riders. Beirer said riders will nevertheless be able to train on some Pirelli tyres fitted to production bikes. How evenly the grid begins the 2027 season remains “a big question mark,” he said. The Valencia post-season test is scheduled to bring the full 2027 grid together on the new machinery and tyres for the first time.