LUCA MARINI EXPECTS SENNA AGIUS TO HAVE A BIG ADVANTAGE IN 2027 WITH PIRELLI

Luca Marini believes Senna Agius could arrive in MotoGP in 2027 with a “very big advantage” over previous rookie transitions, largely because of the sport’s switch to Pirelli tyres. Agius is set to step up from Moto2 to MotoGP with Red Bull KTM Tech3 next season, and Marini expects the timing of the move to matter as much as the rider.

Marini said he had known about the situation “since a long time,” and he framed Agius’s promotion as a reward for the form he showed in Moto2. “He [Agius] showed fantastic potential in Moto2. He achieved great results and he's riding very well,” Marini stated. In his view, the broader context of 2027 makes the transition unusually favourable for riders coming up from Moto2, because they will be moving into a class that is closer in tyre experience than it has been in the past.

MotoGP is set to change tyre supplier, with the series moving to Pirelli in 2027. Marini pointed to the fact that Moto2 riders like Agius have already been using Pirelli tyres since 2024, meaning the rookie adjustment may be less steep than it has been historically. He added that the advantage is not just theoretical: “I think in 2027 the guys from Moto2 will have a very big advantage compared to the past transition between Moto2 and MotoGP.”

The Italian also argued that 2027 is the “perfect moment” for riders who get the opportunity to go straight into MotoGP. “So, for everybody that had this great opportunity to go directly to MotoGP in 2027, it's fantastic,” he said. Marini went further, suggesting that the gap between Moto2 and MotoGP could narrow compared to the current era. “I think it's the perfect moment for them, so I think that everybody is expecting a lot from them [from] the beginning because maybe the next MotoGP will be much closer to the Moto2 than to the [current] MotoGP.”

Marini’s comments align with remarks already made earlier in the year by Marc Marquez, who suggested rookies would benefit from the tyre-brand change. In the latest discussion around the 2027 grid, Marquez also singled out Nicolo Bulega as the “most interesting” move, pointing to the fact that Bulega is already testing and “knows the tyres,” and saying: “I believe that he will be fast. He's a very good rider.” In a separate update ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Marquez explained what intrigues him most about the 2027 rider market: “For me, it’s Bulega’s arrival – he’s already out on test runs, and I think he’ll be a very fast rider,” he said, referencing Bulega’s additional role at Ducati as the brand’s test and development rider.

The new reporting also notes that many believe Bulega has an “unfair advantage” due to his extra testing of Ducati’s future prototype, though Bulega has rubbished the idea and pointed to the testing opportunities available to every rider on the grid before racing begins in Thailand next year. It also adds that Bulega suffered a crash at Mugello, with a highside at Turn 9, and was taken to hospital for further checks; he was not injured and is expected to be back on Ducati’s 850cc bike during a test in Austria after the race weekend.

Jorge Martin, meanwhile, highlighted the new factory Ducati pairing, saying he was “really looking forward to seeing these two together” because “they both have big charisma.” Pedro Acosta added that, like Marquez, he sees Bulega as a “nice move,” and also expects Moto2 graduates to be a talking point: “Also, everyone that is moving from Moto2 will be a nice surprise, to see how they manage [knowing] the tyres.”

Even with that caveat, Marini expects immediate pace from the Moto2 graduates. “I think that they can be very fast and really close to the top guys [from] the first race,” he said, underlining his belief that the 2027 transition could produce rookies who are competitive from the outset.

Asked whether he expects to gain anything from riding alongside Agius, Marini was direct: “No, I don't think so.” Instead, he highlighted that the biggest challenge for everyone in 2027 will be learning to manage the tyres mentally and tactically. “In the end it will be very important on the mental side to understand very well the tyres and understand how to deal with them because it's the biggest question mark of next year.”

Beyond tyres, 2027 is also set to begin a wider technical reset: smaller 850cc engines will arrive and Pirelli will replace Michelin as the exclusive supplier. With Agius confirmed, all 22 places on the 2027 grid are now officially set, and the full line-up will be on track together for the first time at the Valencia post-season test on 1 December.