In the first of what's likely to be many moves to leverage Formula 1's massive fanbase for MotoGP promotion now Liberty Media owns both series, MotoGP teams will carry out demo laps during F1's United States Grand Prix weekend at Austin.
Ducati's 2027 MotoGP signing and runaway World Superbike champion Nicolo Bulega, KTM and Yamaha's veteran grand prix winning test riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, and Aprilia's test rider Lorenzo Savadori (running with American team Trackhouse) will ride around Austin on Saturday morning ahead of F1 practice three.
Although the timing may seem curious (and a logistical headache for the MotoGP factories involved) given it clashes with MotoGP's Australian GP at Phillip Island so 2026 race riders cannot participate, it's logical that Liberty would want this run to take place at Austin.
Revitalising MotoGP's fanbase in the US is a priority - and an area where the paddock expects great things given Liberty's success in galvanising US enthusiasm for F1. A 400,000-plus weekend crowd is expected for F1 at Austin and as an established MotoGP circuit too, it's easy to draw a direct link between the series (and 2027 MotoGP ticket buying opportunities).
F1's other US venues Miami and Las Vegas being street tracks also make Austin the wisest choice for MotoGP to showcase itself in the right way in front of a vast F1 audience.
And - with no offence intended to Savadori - in Pedrosa, Dovizioso and Bulega MotoGP has come up with three extremely good alternatives to 2026 riders for this marketing mission.