Espargaro fastest as rain disrupts Jerez 850cc test

Pol Espargaro and KTM were reportedly fastest on the opening day of a private 850cc MotoGP test at Jerez, though rain heavily disrupted the running. Espargaro finished 0.798 seconds ahead of Ducati's Nicolo Bulega, with Aprilia's Lorenzo Savadori third, 2.3 seconds off the pace, riding for the first time since extending his RS-GP test deal.

Ducati development rider Michele Pirro completed the field, riding both Superbike and 850cc machinery. Iker Lecuona, WorldSBK title runner-up behind Bulega this year, sat out the day in the hope of better conditions on Thursday.

The Jerez test is the last private outing before Pirelli's official MotoGP debut at Valencia on 1 December, which will feature the 2027 grid and official timing.