MotoGP Riders Push for Minimum Testing Ahead of 2027 Season
Fabio di Giannantonio wants a guaranteed minimum of 850/Pirelli test mileage before 2027, warning veterans could effectively become rookies again.
According to Crash.net, Fabio di Giannantonio has called on MotoGP to guarantee a minimum amount of mileage on the 850cc machines and Pirelli tires before the 2027 season begins. His concern, as the outlet reports, is that experienced riders could find themselves starting over in practical terms, with the new package requiring a level of familiarity that current race seat time does not provide.
The request is framed as a fairness and readiness issue. Di Giannantonio's warning, as Crash.net describes it, is that riders with long careers could face a steep learning curve similar to that of rookies, which would blunt the advantage their experience usually brings.
The report does not say which specific test sessions or mileage targets are under discussion, nor does it describe any formal response from the series or its teams. It presents the comments as a rider's request rather than a confirmed change to the testing calendar.
The timing matters because the 2027 rules and equipment are a major shift from the current season. Any decision on how much running teams get before the first race will shape which riders adapt quickly and which struggle early.
Background
MotoGP has long used testing as a key part of its competitive structure. Private test days, official sessions and rider exchanges let teams develop setups, refine electronics and gather data on tires, and the amount available has changed repeatedly over the years as the series balances costs against the need for competitive preparation.
Testing rules have usually been shaped by two pressures. Factories with larger budgets and more staff can extract more value from extra running, which has pushed the series to restrict testing for smaller teams and to limit spending. At the same time, riders and teams argue that they need enough real-world mileage to be safe and competitive, especially when machinery or tires change significantly.
Tire supply adds another layer. Pirelli has been the sole control tire supplier in the premier class for several seasons, meaning every team works with the same compounds and construction. That arrangement makes tire knowledge a shared resource, but it also means that riders who have not yet learned a new specification may need more time to find grip and manage wear. Engine formats and technical rules have a similar effect, since changes to bikes often alter how a rider brakes, turns and drives out of corners.
Experience is usually an asset in motorcycle racing. Veterans understand set-up trade-offs, can communicate precisely with engineers and often read a track faster. But that advantage depends on the basic platform remaining familiar. When a major package changes, the knowledge that transfers from older bikes can be partial, and the benefit of years in the sport can shrink for a period. This is the dynamic that a request for guaranteed mileage aims to address: giving all riders a fair opportunity to learn the new machinery before results are on the line.
Why it matters
The question goes beyond one rider's preferences. If the 2027 package is substantially different, the amount of pre-season running could determine early-season order, shape team strategies and affect the careers of riders who need time to adapt. A rule that guarantees a minimum level of testing could help level the field for teams with smaller resources, or it could reward those who can afford to spend the most time on track.
There is also a safety dimension. Riders who lack familiarity with a bike or tire may be more likely to make mistakes in unfamiliar conditions, and the series has an obligation to balance performance rules with risk management. A minimum mileage requirement would be one way to make sure that everyone reaches the opening round with enough experience to ride the machine without undue danger.
For fans, the debate is about competition quality. Early-season races that are decided by who adapted fastest rather than by who is the strongest rider can feel less meaningful. Conversely, if the series restricts testing too tightly, the first races may look chaotic for reasons unrelated to skill.
Finally, the request reflects an ongoing negotiation between riders and the organizers. Riders are the people who absorb the risk and the physical demands of the sport, so their view of what they need to compete safely carries weight, even when the final decision rests with the series and manufacturers.
What to watch
The first thing to watch is whether MotoGP or its teams respond publicly to the request. Any formal change would likely appear in official communications or in updates to the technical and sporting regulations. Silence would suggest the issue remains under discussion.
Next, look at how any mileage target is defined. Questions about which sessions count, whether private running is included, and how the allocation applies to satellite and factory teams will determine whether a rule would truly support rider readiness or simply shift advantages.
Also monitor the reactions of other riders, particularly veterans and those who have already tested the 2027 package. Their views on the learning curve will show whether the concern is widely shared or specific to certain riders and bikes.
Finally, watch the calendar. Any change to the pre-season schedule would have to fit within existing commitments for teams, circuits and sponsors, so the practical feasibility of extra running may become clearer as the 2027 schedule takes shape.
Viewpoints
Commentary from our columns: three angles on this story.
The Paddock the racing angle
Di Giannantonio's warning cuts to the heart of what makes MotoGP so compelling: the best riders are supposed to beat the field because of skill and feel, not because they had the most laps on a new machine. If experience is worth less than it used to be after a major package change, the championship becomes a test of who adapts fastest rather than who has earned their place. That may be fine for a single season, but it can distort the story the series tells about its stars. A minimum mileage guarantee would keep the competition about racing rather than catching up. Teams with deeper pockets will always find ways to gain an edge, so the real question is whether the rule keeps the gap manageable. The paddock should be watching closely, because the first few rounds of any new era shape how the next decade is remembered.
The Skeptic open questions and weak points
A plea for minimum mileage sounds reasonable, but it raises questions the request does not answer. Who sets the number, and on what basis? If the target is high, does it favor factories with the staff and budgets to run extra sessions, leaving smaller teams further behind? If it is low, does it do much to help riders who are struggling? There is also the question of whether the concern is as broad as it sounds. One rider's view of a learning curve is useful, but it is not the same as evidence that the package is hard for everyone. Before the series commits to more running, it should be clear what problem it is solving and whether testing is the right tool. Otherwise a well-intended rule could simply move advantages around without making the racing better.
The Long View history and context
Testing has always been a contested part of grand prix racing. In earlier eras, teams used extensive track time to develop engines, chassis and tires, and the sport repeatedly restricted that running to control costs and keep smaller operations viable. Each cycle has produced the same tension: enough practice to ride safely and compete, but not so much that the wealthiest teams buy an unbeatable head start. Di Giannantonio's request is a reminder that every major technical change has a human cost, because the riders who built their careers on the old machinery must learn new limits. The sport has managed these transitions before, and the lessons are usually about balance rather than total freedom or total restriction. Whatever MotoGP decides, the history suggests that the rules will be revisited again.