DUCATI REPORTEDLY RETAINS A ONE-LAP EDGE IN 2027 TESTING

Ducati’s early pace on its 2027 MotoGP bike may be harder to judge than the unofficial times from recent closed-door tests suggest. At the Pirelli test at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, leaked figures reportedly put Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer fastest among the Ducatis, roughly seven-tenths behind Diogo Moreira’s benchmark. Franco Morbidelli was about a second off the pace, while reigning champion Marc Marquez was another tenth back in ninth place.

Those results may not reveal Ducati’s full potential. Paddock Pass journalist Neil Morrison said his sources had offered differing assessments of manufacturers’ progress, but one point had come up repeatedly: Ducati can still produce a standout lap when it wants to. Riders appeared more closely matched in race trim, he said, while Ducati retained the ability to find an extra second in a one-lap attack. Morrison therefore suspected the manufacturer was “probably sandbagging” at the Red Bull Ring.

Ducati’s two official Pirelli tests, at Brno and the Red Bull Ring, took place without media access. The Valencia post-season test, by contrast, will be open to fans and press, offering a clearer public look at the new 850cc machines. Ducati was only a tenth off the pace at Brno in June, where Aprilia led the times.

The 2027 line-up will bring major changes. Pedro Acosta is set to replace Francesco Bagnaia at the factory team, while Moto2 rider Daniel Holgado will join Joan Mir at Gresini. World Superbike champion Nicolo Bulega is heading to VR46, with Aldeguer moving there from Gresini. Marquez is the only rider staying in his current place. Bulega has completed the most MotoGP testing mileage among the newcomers, but injury kept him out of the Austria test.