We are entering a strange period in MotoGP, the liminal space between the 1000cc, ride-height, big aero era and the new 850cc era which starts in 2027. Traditionally, the Misano test is the start of testing for the following season, but with engine development frozen for next year for everyone except Honda and Yamaha, and factories focusing their budgets on their new 850cc machines, updates are limited.
There was work happening for 2026, but on the basis of this Misano test, you would say that next year’s bikes for Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia (and maybe Honda as well) are going to look very similar to the machines they are fielding this year. But with six rounds of 2025 left to go, there were plenty of factories working on getting the most of this season still.
So here is a rundown of the things I saw, and the things the riders told us they were testing at Misano on Monday.
Yamaha – Revolution or revolt?
