Senna Agius Completes First MotoGP Test for Tech3
Australian rookie Senna Agius successfully completed his first MotoGP test at the Red Bull Ring on a KTM, ahead of his confirmed 2027 debut with the Tech3 team.
Senna Agius rode a modified 1000cc KTM bike with 2027-spec Pirelli tyres during a closed Pirelli test at the Red Bull Ring. The 21-year-old Australian completed his first-ever MotoGP test on Monday, spending a full day on KTM machinery equipped with the new tyres set to debut in 2027. KTM invited Agius to the test immediately after the Austrian Grand Prix, with his team granting an exceptional release for him to participate.
Tech3 confirms 2027 line-up with Agius and Marini
Tech3 has confirmed Senna Agius will join Luca Marini in its all-new rider line-up for the 2027 MotoGP season. The signing was confirmed earlier in September, securing the rookie's move to the premier class. This decision forms part of a broader team strategy, as KTM did not trigger options to extend the factory contracts of Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales past the 2026 season.
Positive feedback from test despite no official times
No official lap times were published by Pirelli due to the session's closed nature. Unofficial reports, however, placed Agius's performance in a strong light. His fastest lap was a 1:29.6, which unofficially put him 10th in the timesheets. This placed him within half a second of Maverick Vinales and ahead of riders including Brad Binder, who was 12th on a similar detuned 1000cc RC16. Agius endured zero issues during the run.
Team manager Nicolas Goyon was positive. "Senna Agius adapted naturally to MotoGP machinery during his first test ahead of joining the premier class in 2027," he said. Chaz Davies, Agius's manager for the past year and a half, stated that everyone in the garage was impressed by the rider's feedback and professionalism more than his lap times. The paddock verdict was that the test was 'fabulous', and Tech3's recruitment gamble passed its first big test.
Context: 2027 regulatory shift and team strategy
The test comes amid major 2027 rule changes that will reset the competitive landscape. The new regulations mandate a shift to 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, and the switch from Michelin to Pirelli tyres. Tech3's decision to field a rookie with no prior MotoGP race experience is described as a calculated risk. Agius's prior familiarity with Pirelli tyres from Moto2 provided a useful foundation. KTM took a gamble on him without full insight into his MotoGP capabilities, but confidence has clearly grown after the test.
Uncertainty exists about which exact KTM prototype Agius rode. Conflicting reports suggest either the upcoming 850cc model or a modified version of the current 1000cc RC16. Pirelli confirmed both types of bike were present but withheld specifics on rider assignments. Agius did not ride KTM’s 850cc prototype; he was provided with a detuned version of their current 1,000cc RC16. The true measure of his potential will come during official timed sessions, notably at the Valencia test where the full 2027 grid will gather on Pirelli rubber.
