Pol: You Cannot Believe How Much MotoGP Will Change in 2027

Pol Espargaro returned to a MotoGP paddock this weekend at Silverstone, and his first taste of the current 1000cc/Michelin machinery since February has been something of a shock. The KTM test rider, who has been heavily involved in developing next year’s 850cc/Pirelli bike, admits adapting back hasn’t been easy.

“You cannot believe how much the category will change next year,” Pol Espargaro said after Friday practice. “How many riders are going to struggle in this new [850cc] category, it's insane.”

According to Espargaro, the jump from the 850cc/Pirelli to the 1000cc/Michelin is extreme. “Now I start to understand Toprak, you know? Because to jump from Michelin and this [1000cc] bike to Pirelli and a bit smaller [850cc] engine, it's pretty easy. But to jump the opposite way, to the 1000 [and Michelins], it's another world,” he explained.

Baca JugaMartin Rebut Pole Rekor di Silverstone, Bagnaia Terpuruk P16

The former Moto2 runner-up feels like a rookie again. “I used to ride the 1000 bike for many years, and I feel like a rookie [today]. I need to understand again the time distance in every corner, like braking points, stopping efficiency, the lines where you touch the throttle and where you end up. From fourth gear on, this bike is insane, the torque is insane,” he said.

Espargaro also warned that Moto2 riders already accustomed to Pirelli rubber from the 765cc-powered class could have a significant advantage. “I feel more ready to ride a Moto2 than a MotoGP [after the 850cc/Pirelli tests]! The change is insane. It's going to be a challenge for the current MotoGP riders [used to] the 1000 bikes with the Michelin against the Moto2 riders who will come next year. They are going to be insanely fast,” he added.

Perhaps the biggest difference is physical. Espargaro, a full-time MotoGP rider from 2014 to 2023, claims he could race twice as far on an 850. “With the 850 and the Pirellis I can do two races in a row. It's much, much less physical. And with the 1000 bike, after two laps the heart rate is so high that it's insane. The level of craziness of this category right now is amazing,” he said.

In addition to the smaller engine and new tyres, MotoGP will also ban ride-height devices and restrict aerodynamics next season. Espargaro believes these changes are good for fans. “Riders are going to get less injured because the speed, the category is going to be much smoother. And when everyone is on the same level, the competition is going to be super close. But it will take time,” he said.

On manufacturer advantages, Espargaro thinks Ducati should have an edge thanks to its years of Pirelli knowledge from WorldSBK. “It's easy to think that Ducati is going to be fast from the first day, because they have all the information from Superbike. In the end it's a kind of superbike. They have a lot of information that the other manufacturers don't,” he concluded.