YAMAHA TRAILS RIVALS IN 2027 TEST AS QUESTIONS GROW OVER DEVELOPMENT

Yamaha ended MotoGP’s closed-door 2027 development test at Austria’s Red Bull Ring at the bottom of the five manufacturers’ reported rankings, adding to questions about the progress of its next-generation bike.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was Yamaha’s quickest rider, placing 15th among 19 participants and reportedly 1.6 seconds behind Honda’s Diogo Moreira, who set the fastest time. Jack Miller was another half-second back, while Izan Guevara, standing in for Miller at Pramac, finished 17th on a 1,000cc machine. With no public tyre details or information about teams’ test programmes, the times offer only a partial picture and should not be treated as a definitive comparison.

Still, the result follows other signs that Yamaha may be behind in shaping its 2027 package. Razgatlioglu’s fourth place at the Brno test in June initially offered encouragement, but Yamaha was later reported to have used a current-spec chassis there, changing only the engine. Test rider Augusto Fernandez also said last month that the team had yet to settle on a “basis” for its 2027 bike. At Misano, meanwhile, Ducati test rider Nicolo Bulega reportedly beat Fernandez by a second during an 850cc test.

Taken together, those reports suggest Ducati and Aprilia may currently hold an advantage, while Moreira’s Austria performance adds to the positive signs around Honda. KTM remains difficult to assess. Yamaha boss Paolo Pavesio, however, believes the team has “rediscovered” its strength through corners.

There is still time for development, and the eventual gap to the leaders may matter more than early test positions. One journalist has suggested Yamaha is already looking beyond 2027 and concentrating more on 2028. Fabio Quartararo’s departure was partly attributed to frustration with what he saw as Yamaha’s reluctance to take risks; he was encouraged by Honda’s plans for 2027 and had doubts about Yamaha’s prospects. New signing Jorge Martin has taken the opposite view, backing the project and telling critics they will change their minds once they see the bike on track.