Red Bull KTM has taken the first major step toward MotoGP’s next era by running its prototype 850cc engine for the first time on the dyno at its Mattighofen headquarters. The test delivered the first power readings from an engine built to operate entirely on non-fossil fuel — a core requirement of the sport’s upcoming sustainability goals. The session marked the beginning of a new development phase as KTM prepares its machine for on-track testing ahead of the 2027 season.
From 2027, MotoGP will usher in a new generation of machinery aimed at making racing safer, more sustainable, and more competitive. Engine displacement will drop from 1000cc to 850cc to reduce top speeds and improve efficiency, while aerodynamic elements will be simplified to encourage closer racing and more overtaking.
Ride-height and holeshot devices will be banned to enhance rider control, and all bikes will run on 100% sustainable fuel, reflecting the sport’s environmental goals. These changes are designed not only to curb costs and increase road relevance but also to make MotoGP racing more about rider skill and spectacle than ever before.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “I am extremely happy that we could fire up the future of MotoGP already in September 2025. We are on a perfect time schedule to get the full bike up and running very soon. We have packed everything we have learned during the last years of MotoGP participation into this engine and I am very confident that this piece of art will become a benchmark in the seasons to come from 2027. I want to thank the factory and the whole team behind the project for this massive effort.”