Acosta to Test KTM’s 850cc RC16 in Brno
NXTbets Pro | Published On: June 22, 2026
KTM development plans
KTM is giving Pedro Acosta a role in its 2027 MotoGP development work even as the Spaniard is expected to join Ducati next season. The move puts Acosta into the center of KTM’s push toward the next technical cycle, and it comes with the manufacturer willing to share technical information with a rider who may soon line up against it. KTM wants him involved before that switch happens, and it sees value in using its fastest current benchmark rider to shape the next bike. Pit Beirer said Acosta earned the assignment because he gives KTM the clearest read on performance and the most useful feedback for a future machine. The decision also underlines how much KTM values his input after a season in which he has already been one of its main reference points. The Brno test gives KTM a first look at how its next-generation program responds to current MotoGP race riders, and it arrives as the factory looks ahead to the 2027 rules package and the changes that come with it. Acosta’s selection also shows KTM is willing to invest in its future bike even when its present lineup faces uncertainty.
Acosta’s Brno test
Acosta is set to test KTM’s new 850cc RC16 on Pirelli tires in Brno, a key step in KTM’s preparation for the 2027 MotoGP technical cycle. The run is the first chance for current MotoGP race riders to sample the 2027-style bikes and the new tire package, which makes the session more than a routine development outing. KTM expects Acosta to be joined at Brno by either Dani Pedrosa or Pol Espargaró, two riders already tied to the company’s development work. That mix gives KTM a blend of current race pace and experienced technical input as it studies the early direction of its next machine. Honda is taking a similar path, planning to use Joan Mir and Luca Marini on its own 2027 prototype. The parallel approach across factories shows how seriously manufacturers are treating the next regulation change and how much they want rider feedback before the new era arrives. For KTM, the test also carries a practical edge. The company knows Acosta may soon be on the other side of the garage, but it still sees enough upside in his pace and feel for the bike to put him at the front of its development effort.
Acosta’s views
Acosta’s Brno assignment follows a strong but frustrating stretch that included a retirement from fifth place in the Czech Grand Prix after a last-lap technical problem. He spoke after KTM’s strong showing in Hungary and said he would approach Brno carefully. He also said he still felt like the only KTM rider consistently carrying the manufacturer, and he called on the rest of the group to raise its level if the brand wants faster progress. Acosta said KTM remains too far away from fighting for race wins on a regular basis or challenging for the championship, and he framed the current title fight as one centered mainly between Aprilia and Marc. He also backed MotoGP’s decision to remove front-lowering devices, a change he sees as part of keeping the racing more direct. His strongest criticism came at the idea of moving to 850cc engines. Acosta called that shift “a step backward” and said MotoGP should stay difficult, with riders making the difference rather than the machinery becoming easier to manage. His comments fit the profile of a rider who wants development gains, but also wants the series to preserve the skill gap that defines top-level Grand Prix racing.
