Pirelli Chief: Ducati and One Other Brand Leading 2027 MotoGP Tyre Tests

Pirelli Points to Two Manufacturers Setting the Pace

Pirelli's chief has publicly identified Ducati and one other MotoGP manufacturer as the teams driving progress in the series' 2027 tyre testing programme, according to reporting by MotoGP News. The comments shine a light on how the development work for the next-generation rubber is taking shape behind the scenes, with some brands clearly more engaged than others.

The Pirelli executive did not name the second manufacturer outright in available reporting, but the acknowledgement that two brands are "leading the way" implies a clear gap is forming between the most active testers and the rest of the grid. That kind of early momentum in a tyre development cycle can have lasting consequences, since data gathered now will directly shape how the 2027 compounds are refined.

Ducati's position at the front of this process is unlikely to surprise anyone who has followed MotoGP in recent years. The Bologna manufacturer has consistently been the most prolific user of test sessions across the championship, deploying multiple riders and a well-resourced technical department to extract detailed feedback. That same approach appears to be carrying over into the tyre collaboration work with Pirelli.

What the 2027 Tyre Change Means for the Grid

The shift to new Pirelli tyres for 2027 is one of the more significant technical changes on MotoGP's medium-term horizon. Tyre specifications have a profound effect on chassis setup philosophy, electronics mapping, and riding style, so manufacturers that build a strong working relationship with Pirelli during the test phase are better positioned to hit the ground running when the new rubber becomes mandatory.

For the teams falling behind in this process, the Pirelli chief's comments could serve as a prompt to accelerate their own involvement. Once development directions are locked in based on feedback from the most active testers, it becomes harder for latecomers to influence the final product in ways that suit their particular bike characteristics.

This dynamic has played out before in motorsport tyre transitions. The manufacturers that commit resources early tend to get compounds that align more closely with how their bikes generate grip and manage heat, while those that show up late must adapt to a tyre shaped largely by their rivals' input.

Broader Implications for the 2027 Season

MotoGP is already dealing with a period of considerable regulatory change, and the tyre programme adds another layer of complexity for every team's planning cycle. Pirelli stepping in as tyre supplier has required the entire paddock to build new technical relationships and testing workflows from scratch.

The fact that Ducati, the dominant force in recent MotoGP seasons, is also among the most active participants in tyre development reinforces how seriously the manufacturer is treating every potential competitive advantage. Rivals hoping to close the gap in 2027 will need to match that level of engagement with Pirelli, not just focus on engine and chassis development.

How the unnamed second manufacturer fares once the 2027 season begins may offer an interesting indicator of how much these early test sessions ultimately matter.