SENNA AGIUS MAKES MOTOGP DEBUT TESTING KTM 850 IN SPIELBERG

Senna Agius’ recent run in the lower classes has been far from smooth, but the young Australian got a chance to reset his momentum in Spielberg with his first MotoGP test on KTM’s 850cc machine for 2027. After a disappointing San Marino GP—where the Intact-Racer started from pole and was taken out after only a few hundred meters—Agius also faced a major setback at the Austrian GP. He crashed in Q2 due to a mistake, with the bike flipping multiple times. Because Moto2 has no warm-up, the bike had to be checked and tested after a rebuild during the race itself, and the Kalex with the number 81 did not run cleanly. He was pushed back and ultimately forced to retire.

Instead of leaving immediately after the Austrian weekend, Agius stayed in Austria. KTM Factory Racing, together with Tech3, decided to involve the rider—already confirmed for 2027—directly in the MotoGP testing program. The move follows what Speedweek had previously suggested before the GP, and it became reality once the Intact-GP management gave the green light.

Agius made his MotoGP debut on Monday following Pedro Acosta’s dominant MotoGP win in Spielberg. Unlike fellow newcomer Izan Guevara, Agius had not yet had the opportunity to sample the premier-class prototypes. The report notes that in 2025, even riders who did not earn the step up still managed to rack up MotoGP mileage; examples given were Manuel Gonzalez testing for Trackhouse-Aprilia and Celestino Vietti for VR46-Ducati.

On the test day, conditions were cool but the track was dry. KTM’s chief tester Pol Espargaro immediately went to work and even managed to put the 850cc bike down in turn 2, while Agius’ session passed without any obvious incidents. The number 81 rode the circuit both in the morning and later in the day. Because it was a strictly closed private test, no official lap times were published, though the account describes his debut as impressive.

The test is also framed as more than a symbolic introduction. With four years in Moto2, Agius has extensive experience with Pirelli tyres, and his feedback is expected to be valuable for the technical team. Further testing for Agius is only expected during the official Valencia test after the season finale.