Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta’s KTM future is becoming an increasingly hot topic in the MotoGP paddock. This is the outcome the Austrian team feared after their desperate winter.
KTM’s road bike division are facing a financial crisis so severe that their motorsport programme is in danger. The situation has somewhat stabilised after the approval of a restructuring plan, but it may already have affected their MotoGP development.
Pit Beirer’s squad appear to be even further behind the dominant Ducati than they were in 2024, when they scored six podiums – five through Acosta. Having established himself as the next superstar in the series, the Spaniard’s ambitions may now be outgrowing his current environment.
Acosta has shown formidable single-lap speed in 2025, qualifying fourth at the Argentina Grand Prix and fourth in the Americas. But he’s invariably fallen back in the race, twice because of crashes.
Pedro Acosta suitors could buy out his KTM contract ahead of 2026 MotoGP season
After the race in Austin, Acosta gifted his manager, Albert Valera, a helmet that had ‘turning point’ written on the visor. While this naturally fuelled speculation over his future, fans weren’t quite sure what he meant.
The Race may now have offered an explanation. KTM apparently had just three races to ‘lock in’ their franchise rider for 2026.
Acosta signed a two-year contract, but ‘paddock sources’ believe there could be a buyout for next season. While he ‘won’t be cheap’, it seems the figures in question are at least realistic.
Honda are well-placed to sign Acosta because three of their four riders are out of contract. That includes Luca Marini, Joan Mir’s teammate at the factory squad.
KTM must learn from Honda’s Marc Marquez mistake amid Pedro Acosta uncertainty
VR46 will rival Honda for Acosta’s signature if indeed he is on the market. Indeed, reports last week claimed that Valentino Rossi’s squad already had a pre-agreement with the 20-year-old.
In a recent interview, Acosta rejected the ‘dream team’ tag for Ducati. He’s concerned that the Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia partnership won’t work because ‘you can’t have two number ones’.
If Acosta was to join the Ducati stable, it could fundamentally reshape the dynamics. He’d surely be offered a current-spec bike, potentially at the expense of Fabio di Giannantonio.
Former boss Francesco Guidotti says KTM may need to let Acosta go, rather than resisting as Honda did with Marc Marquez. They could generate too much ‘bad publicity’, he says, by keeping an unhappy rider.
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