Fabio di Giannantonio has sounded a stark warning over the 2027 MotoGP season, demanding minimum guaranteed testing for all riders on the new 850cc machines and Pirelli tyres — a call underscored by fears that “expert riders will not be experts at all.” As the sport braces for radical technical changes, di Giannantonio, now moving from VR46 Ducati to Red Bull KTM, highlights a glaring imbalance: nine riders have yet to experience the next-generation tyres, while manufacturers have predominantly favored their retained riders during the limited testing sessions held so far.
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Among those still waiting for hands-on time with the 850cc/Pirelli package are high-profile names including Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati to Aprilia), Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha to Honda), and Jorge Martin (Aprilia to Yamaha), alongside rookies like David Alonso and Dani Holgado. These nine will only get their first taste during the post-season test at Valencia on December 1, followed by a drastically shortened pre-season testing schedule of just four days split between Sepang and Buriram. The compressed calendar leaves little margin for error, especially given the unpredictable weather concerns at these circuits.
Adding to the complexity, only rookies and test
Adding to the complexity, only rookies and test riders will be permitted to participate in the two-day Sepang Shakedown on January 29-30, since all five manufacturers begin the 2027 season ranked in concession rank B. This excludes many riders switching teams who have yet to ride the new machinery and tyres. Di Giannantonio aligns with KTM’s Enea Bastianini in advocating for opening up the Shakedown to these riders, arguing that fairness and safety demand it.
“It would be super fair,” di Giannantonio stated, emphasizing the unprecedented leap the sport faces. “Next year is not just a small change; it’s a completely new class. So the expert riders will not be experts at all. Many of us, like me, would maybe be like one of the rookies because I will have fewer days [with Pirelli tyres] compared to all the others.” He stressed the crucial safety aspect, pointing out the risks if a rider loses valuable testing time due to mechanical failures or reliability issues. “For every manufacturer, it’s like this. So I think for safety reasons, we should arrive with a minimum kilometres for everybody and a maximum too.”
Di Giannantonio’s plea exposes a fundamental challenge facing MotoGP as it transitions to its new era: ensuring all riders gain sufficient experience on radically different machinery to compete safely and fairly. Without such measures, the so-called experts could find themselves on equal footing with rookies, undermining competition integrity and rider safety alike.
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