KTM to allow Ducati-bound Pedro Acosta to try its 2027 bike at Brno test

KTM will permit Pedro Acosta, who is bound for Ducati in 2027, to ride KTM's 2027 RC16 in Monday's Brno test. This marks a notable shift as KTM and other manufacturers begin testing the next-generation 850cc machines and Pirelli rubber ahead of the off-season. Acosta will be joined by a KTM test rider, either Pol Espargaro or Dani Pedrosa, both of whom have previously tested the new bike privately. Aprilias Raul Fernandez has also been invited to test its GP27 on Monday, illustrating a broader relaxation of restrictions around outgoing riders.

Originally, the plan was for no rider headed for another factory to participate in tests until Valencia's post-season session. With three days of Czech Grand Prix action left, paddock talk continues and more announcements could follow. The Brno test lineup could establish a new precedent for flexibility as manufacturers balance development with rider movements.