The 2026 MotoGP season is still months away, but talk is already building for 2027 and the new regulations.
No one knows what the pecking order will look like when the bikes move from 1000cc to 850cc engines, as well as the suspension of the ride height kit. But teams have already started their preparations.
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KTM recently tested their 2027 machine. With Paul Espargaro, with Honda It is ready to follow. Ducati They hope to continue their dominance in MotoGP under the new rules, however Concerns surrounding the oil supplier Shell According to the new rules, it can hinder them.
Yamaha immediately understood that they should build a V4 After reading the rules of 2027, there was no way they could continue using four in a row. Aprilia They are also working hard behind the scenes but they are facing problems.
Aprilia doesn’t have enough money to build their 2026 and 2027 bikes at the same time
Noale’s clothing has made serious progress in 2025, though George Martin Battling injuries throughout the season. Marco Bezecchi And the challenger driver Lorenzo Savadori He helped develop the RS-GP into a race-winning machine, capable of challenging Ducati.
Massimo Rivola supports the riders to fight for the title In the year In 2026, however, he faced problems with development and the team’s resources.
According to the report Speed ​​week“Aprilia cannot afford to fully utilize their resources and pursue both development projects at the same time. Despite their success, they have one of the smallest budgets in MotoGP, and it can cost them a lot.”
2027 will give Aprilia a ‘big dilemma’ to prioritize next year’s bike or their 850cc machines. Either way, it could put them on the back foot in a season they choose not to focus on – if they opt for 2026, Rivola’s squad could be in trouble under the new rules.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Aprilia, from MotoGP team riders to the hierarchy
In order not to fall behind in 2027, Apria must sign a second test rider
Another concern for Aprilia is the rider line-up. Currently, they are the only manufacturer with only one test rider on the MotoGP grid in Savadori.
Yamaha With Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez to rely on, Honda has three options in Takaki Nakagami, Aleix Espargaro and Stefan Bradl. Ducati adds Niccolò Bullega To their level with Michel Pirro, and KTM They have veterans Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa.
While Savadori has been doing fantastic work behind the scenes with Aprilia up to this point, these regulatory changes could limit the team from having all the work on his shoulders. ‘Matteo Baiocco has also been involved in the past’, but is ‘now only available for basic functional testing’.
If they are serious about being competitive in both 2026 and 2027, Aprilia’s best option is to bring another rider onto their books. But with limited resources, that may not happen, meaning their current riders will have to rely more than ever.
