MotoGP Stars Test Pirelli Tyres on New 850cc Bikes at Brno

MotoGP Riders Gather at Brno for Pirelli Tyre Test

A notable group of MotoGP riders, including Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi, took to the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic to evaluate Pirelli tyres fitted to the new 850cc prototype motorcycles. The session, reported by GPOne, marks a significant step in the sport's ongoing transition toward the incoming technical regulations that will reshape the premier class.

Brno, a circuit with a long MotoGP history even though it no longer hosts a round on the current calendar, provided the backdrop for what amounts to a focused development day. The track's varied layout, combining fast sweepers with technical sections, makes it a practical venue for tyre evaluation across different stress conditions.

What the 850cc Switch Means for Tyres

The move from the current 1000cc configuration to 850cc engines is one of the more consequential regulatory changes on MotoGP's horizon. Smaller displacement typically means different power delivery characteristics, which in turn places altered demands on rubber. Braking distances, cornering loads, and acceleration grip requirements all shift when engine output and torque curves change.

Pirelli, which supplies tyres for several other FIM categories including WorldSBK, has been working with MotoGP as part of discussions around future tyre supply. Testing at this stage allows engineers to gather hard data on how their compounds perform under the specific mechanical demands of the new platform before any regulations are locked in.

For riders like Marquez and Bezzecchi, participation in a session like this serves dual purposes. They gain early familiarity with how an 850cc machine behaves under race-representative tyre loads, and their feedback directly shapes the development direction Pirelli engineers pursue in subsequent compound iterations.

Marquez and Bezzecchi Among Key Voices

Marquez, currently riding for the Gresini Ducati squad after his high-profile departure from Honda, brings extensive experience from years at the front of the premier class. His ability to extract detailed technical feedback from tyre behaviour under extreme conditions makes his presence at a development test genuinely useful rather than merely symbolic.

Bezzecchi, who has established himself as one of the sharper technical communicators in the paddock during his time with the VR46 squad, adds another layer of rider data. Different riding styles stress tyres in different ways, and having multiple riders with contrasting approaches gives Pirelli a broader picture of where their compounds perform well and where they still need work.

GPOne reported that the pair were among several riders present at Brno, suggesting this was a structured group evaluation rather than an isolated individual test. The combined rider feedback from a single track day provides compound comparisons that would otherwise take multiple separate sessions to accumulate.

What Comes Next

Tyre testing at this level tends to be iterative. Data collected at Brno will feed back into Pirelli's development programme, likely resulting in revised compounds being prepared for follow-up sessions. The timeline for finalising tyre specifications to match the 850cc regulations will depend on how quickly the broader technical framework is confirmed by MotoGP's governing bodies.

For the paddock at large, sessions like this one are a reminder that the next era of MotoGP is already being built in practical terms, not just debated in regulation documents. Riders are turning laps, tyres are being measured, and the data gathering that underpins a reliable championship product is underway.

Original reporting on the Brno test was published by GPOne.