Augusto Fernández: "The 850cc MotoGP bikes will be more fun to ride"

Less power, less aerodynamics, but much more room for rider talent. This is the vision of the 2027 MotoGP that emerged from an interview with Augusto Fernández, a Yamaha test rider and one of the key figures in the development of the new 850 cc bike tested at Brno.

The former Moto2 world champion explained that the work is still proceeding by trial and error, and no definitive solution has yet been identified, but he's convinced that the direction taken is the right one. More than a reduction in horsepower, the Pirelli tires are what's going to make a difference in the transition into the new regulations. Yamaha has been able to gather valuable feedback on them, thanks, in part, to the presence of Toprak Razgatlioglu, who brought his experience from the Superbike.

However, it's especially how Fernández described the new bike's behavior that hints at how the entertainment, on the track might change.
“The bike has less power, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s also more fun,” he explained to AS. “With less aerodynamics, the bike moves more, and the rider can make a bigger difference. You have to work harder with your body when the bike rears up. These bikes are more fun and will allow everyone to stay closer together. It’ll be exciting, and it’ll also be easier to overtake. Contacts will be more controlled. The impacts are much more violent now when we collide, and there's a risk of causing serious damage, since stopping the bike is difficult. With these bikes, we’ll be able to ride closer to the limit, but in a more controlled way. It’ll be a great MotoGP season. The only real limitation is the power. You can tell there’s less of it. But, even today, we don’t use all the power available, because we’re forced to limit it coming out of almost every corner. I think everything will become more natural and even more fun.”