New 850cc Aprilia MotoGP engine is predicted to debut this spring
Aprilia Racing is set to debut its new 850cc MotoGP engine this spring, according to the team’s technical director.
After KTM and Honda already debuted their 2027 MotoGP prototypes, which includes the bikes’ much-anticipated 850cc engines, Aprilia looks like it could well be next.
That’s because a spring debut for its 2027 prototype has been predicted by Aprilia Racing’s technical director, Fabiano Sterlacchini.
KTM was the first brand to reveal its 850cc engine concept in October, before an on-track debut followed towards the end of 2025, with a private test at Jerez. Honda has since followed suit, with two tests taking place in Malaysia, at the Sepang International Circuit.
Aprilia intends to debut the new prototype “around the beginning of spring”, meaning we could see its new engine break cover in late March.
Aprilia ended 2025 as Ducati’s main challengers, and it looks as though the Noale-based company is best positioned to take the fight to its Italian rivals again in 2026, before the new regulations come into effect.
The challenge for manufacturers this year will be to balance the development of the current machines, alongside the new 2027 prototypes. But Aprilia is already well underway with both, as its new 850cc engine has already been running on the test bench ahead of its on-track debut.
When speaking at Aprilia Racing’s 2026 MotoGP launch, Sterlacchini revealed further details about the new 2027 prototype, saying:
“The [850cc] engine is running on the test bench in let’s say ‘testing mode’ for reliability, to confirm everything and also to start part of the development. Basically, we are thinking that around the beginning of spring the first prototype will go on track.
“At the end of the day, the first prototype is already done, but it’s in the test phase. We are quite confident, quite optimistic.”
While each brand will have its work cut out trying to balance this year’s bike development and that of the 2027 machines, it is Yamaha that’s perhaps facing the biggest challenge in 2026. The Japanese brand will race its all-new V4 engine throughout the entire season, meaning it will be trying to juggle bike development, significant engine development (as the V4 project is still very new), and next year’s prototype.
Photo credit - Gold and Goose
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com.
After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.