Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna says the first impression of the Desmosedici GP27 was “very good” after test rider Michele Pirro completed a shakedown at Misano on 13 April. Dall’Igna confirmed the bike is “ready for further testing” with Pirro set to run the full 850cc package including Pirelli prototype tyres and 100 percent renewable Shell fuel at Mugello next week.
Jorge Martin’s chaotic Friday at Jerez ended with a three place grid penalty for the Sunday race after stewards ruled he impeded Alex Marquez at Turns 3 and 4 in the closing minutes of Practice. Martin had already crashed twice during the day, including a bizarre fall after the FP1 chequered flag on his way to practice starts. He called Friday “a bit of a mess” but scraped into Q2.
Fabio Di Giannantonio set the fastest time in MotoGP FP1 at Jerez, leading a VR46 1-2 ahead of Franco Morbidelli. Both riders improved late in the session on fresh tyres, while several rivals focused on race pace. Álex Márquez finished third, with Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez close behind as the Spanish Grand Prix weekend began.
Fabio Di Giannantonio ended FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix fastest, with Franco Morbidelli second after both went quickest on fresh tyres at the end of the session. Alex Marquez, Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez completed the top five, with the championship leader and Marquez both avoiding fresh rubber late on. Ducati riders filled four of the top five positions. The opening day tone at Jerez has been set.
Ducati heads into Jerez focusing on braking and corner entry improvements after a difficult start to 2026. Fabio Di Giannantonio confirmed the team used the break to analyse weaknesses, with Aprilia dominating early races. Jerez is seen as a key reset point where Ducati expects to close the gap and challenge for wins again.
Yamaha will run a fifth bike at Jerez with Augusto Fernandez as a wildcard entry. The move is aimed at collecting data to improve the struggling 2026 machine after poor results in recent races. The post-race test scheduled on Monday makes this weekend important for Yamaha’s development direction.
Aprilia has dominated the 2026 season so far but faces a tougher challenge at Jerez, a circuit traditionally strong for Ducati. With multiple race wins already, Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship, but the Spanish GP is expected to test whether Aprilia can maintain its advantage.
Enea Bastianini confirms he has stopped attending MotoGP Safety Commission meetings this season, citing total inaction on rider safety. Fabio Quartararo also skips most sessions, arguing the grid lacks unity after India’s chaotic rain split in 2023. Both demand a formal riders’ association. The boycott lands as Brazil’s return brought asphalt failures and Adelaide’s 2027 street circuit raises fresh concerns about track standards.
Alex Rins is out of the Yamaha factory team for 2027, with Ai Ogura confirmed as his replacement alongside Jorge Martin. Rins had already acknowledged at COTA that he was not enjoying the bike and was uncertain about his future, finishing last in the grand prix. With no race seat likely available elsewhere, his MotoGP career could end at Valencia in November.
Aprilia will run its 2027 850cc prototype for the first time at a private Jerez test on April 30 and May 1, just days after the Spanish GP. CEO Massimo Rivola said the team is not in a hurry, explaining that Aprilia’s key strength is its speed from concept to track, describing it as their “time to market” advantage. All four other manufacturers have already tested 850cc machines.