Pirelli ran its second and final in-season MotoGP tyre test open to race riders at the Red Bull Ring on Monday, with 18 riders taking part. The Austrian session was another step in preparing the tyre range that Pirelli will supply when it replaces Michelin as MotoGP’s exclusive supplier in 2027. The complete grid for that season will first come together for the official Valencia test on Tuesday, 1 December, two days after the season finale.

The test covered soft, medium and hard slick compounds for both the front and rear of the motorcycles. All five manufacturers supplied their latest 850cc prototypes, while adapted versions of the current-generation 1000cc bikes also ran. Because the test was held behind closed doors, with no media access and no official timing, it was not possible to establish which individual riders used each type of machine or to compare lap times publicly.

Who rode at the Red Bull Ring

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Raúl Fernández, Pedro Acosta, Fermín Aldeguer, Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez returned after also attending Pirelli’s June test in the Czech Republic. Honda’s places previously occupied by Luca Marini and Joan Mir were taken by LCR riders Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, both contracted for 2027.

Jack Miller, Brad Binder and Franco Morbidelli made their first Pirelli MotoGP test appearances. All three are due to leave MotoGP for WorldSBK next season, where they will race with Michelin tyres. Moto2 riders and 2027 rookies Senna Agius and Izan Guevara were also present. Tech3’s Maverick Viñales used the outing to evaluate his injured shoulder ahead of a possible MotoGP return at Motegi.

Nicolo Bulega, another 2027 rookie, withdrew to concentrate on his WorldSBK title challenge in Cremona the following weekend. The remaining test riders were Takaaki Nakagami, Pol Espargaró, Lorenzo Savadori and Augusto Fernández. The manufacturer allocation was Honda with Zarco, Moreira and Nakagami; Yamaha with Razgatlıoğlu, Miller, Guevara and Augusto Fernández; Ducati with Márquez, Morbidelli and Aldeguer; Aprilia with Bezzecchi, Raúl Fernández and Savadori; and KTM with Acosta, Binder, Espargaró, Viñales and Agius.

Acosta the exception among manufacturer switchers

Several riders who are changing teams or manufacturers for 2027 were still waiting to try Pirelli MotoGP tyres. The names listed in the report were Pecco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Fabio Quartararo, Álex Márquez, Jorge Martín, Ai Ogura and Enea Bastianini. Acosta, described as Sunday’s race winner and as moving from KTM to Ducati next season, was the only rider changing MotoGP manufacturers to have attended both Pirelli tests.

Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director Giorgio Barbier said the Austrian session produced a positive overall response, particularly regarding grip and stability. He said the rookies had contributed different riding approaches and perspectives, while the collected feedback would help Pirelli refine the range and define its characteristics for next season. The programme combines collective tests such as this one with private development running involving manufacturers and development riders.

Private testing with 850cc prototypes and development riders will continue. Valencia will be the first Pirelli test with the complete 2027 MotoGP race-rider line-up and official timing, providing the first full on-track comparison point for the new tyres.