Yamaha's 2027 850cc MotoGP bike: Fernandez says it's another brand

Augusto Fernandez, who tests Yamaha's future 850cc MotoGP prototype, says it rides nothing like the current 1000cc V4. In his words, it's almost like swapping to a different make. It hints at how much the machinery will change under the 2027 rules.

Fernandez is back in the paddock replacing injured Toprak Razgatlioglu at Pramac Yamaha. He keeps his testing duties and shares them with Andrea Dovizioso. Two tests on Pirelli tyres have already happened, but riders' feedback is guarded, and official lap times will only appear at the Valencia test in December.

At Phillip Island he took 17th in wet qualifying, ahead of Alex Rins, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. He finished the dry Sprint last. The next round is in Malaysia at Sepang, which he knows well from Yamaha testing and two seasons with Tech3 KTM.

• New bike — 850 cc, Pirelli tyres
• Current bike — 1000 cc V4, Michelin tyres
• Official lap times — Valencia test, December