KTM's 850cc engine for 2027 MotoGP season breaks cover in Jerez test

KTM has become the first MotoGP manufacturer to put its new 2027 engine on track, with Pol Espargaro sharing a video from a private Jerez test on social media.

Having fired up its new 850cc engine on the dyno for the first time in October, KTM has now taken another step in developing the successor to the RC16 for the 2027 regulations.

It’s no secret that manufacturers have already shifted significant resources towards the upcoming rule cycle, despite the 2026 season with current prototypes still ahead.

MotoGP is preparing for one of its biggest technical overhauls in decades, with regulations largely unchanged since the introduction of a common ECU in 2016. Further, 2012 was the last time manufacturers were required to change the engine capacity, as the series shifted back to 1000cc motors from the previous 800cc units.​

While all factories have been working hard on building bikes for the new regulations, which also feature reduced aerodynamics, a ban on ride-height devices and a move to Pirelli tyres, none had run an 850cc power unit on track until now.

​KTM, whose long-term future in MotoGP had previously been in doubt amid its financial woes, has beaten other manufacturers to the punch, debuting what appears to be an early prototype of its 2027 engine at a private test.

In a video shared on Instagram, KTM’s test rider Espargaro showcased a bike equipped with the new engine and Pirelli rubber at Jerez on Thursday.

“Hear that? The engine just fired up. Our 850cc is alive, and it’s ready to race 2027,” he wrote.

The post garnered comments from KTM Racing as well as Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales, adding further credibility to the test.

Earlier in October, KTM announced that it had completed initial dyno runs for the 2027 850cc engine concept at its headquarters in Mattighofen. This was complemented by a video of the engine being fired up for the first time.
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The statement also served to reinforce KTM’s commitment to MotoGP following Bajaj Auto’s takeover of the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer in the summer.