Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta could soon be on the market in MotoGP. And right now, it looks like VR46 and Honda are his two main suitors.
On the face of it, Acosta is under contract at KTM until the end of 2026. But he’s not guaranteed to stay with the Austrian manufacturer, whose performance levels so far this year have been broadly disappointing.
Indeed, KTM missed a deadline to lock in Acosta for next year. That may be why he posted a picture with manager Albert Valera suggesting round three in the Americas was a ‘turning point’.
Acosta can also be bought out of his contract for a fee of around of £4m. Honda could intensify the Marc Marquez comparisons by positioning him as their franchise rider.
But Valentino Rossi has also held talks with Acosta and seems determined to strike a deal. It’s unclear what that would mean for incumbent VR46 duo Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli.
Marc Marquez says ‘every rider’ wants a factory bike – and Ducati can’t offer that to Pedro Acosta
Speaking at a sponsor event ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, Marquez discussed the importance of factory machinery. A team may offer a rider a current-spec bike at a satellite team, but there’s a prestige associated with wearing manufacturer colours.
Jorge Martin won the world championship at Pramac last season, becoming the first rider to triumph at a satellite team in the MotoGP era. But Marquez, who spent a year at Gresini before a promotion to Ducati at Martin’s expense, says his situation is ‘ideal’.
Even though squads like Gresini and Pramac (now affiliated with Yamaha) can offer ‘great’ support, what ‘every rider’ really wants is a factory seat. Honda can give that to Acosta, but Rossi can’t, with Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia already in place at Ducati.
The counterpoint here is that the Italians currently have by far the best bike on the grid. But the looming rule changes in 2027 offer Honda a chance to reassert themselves.
“It all depends on whether you have an official motorcycle or not,” Marquez explained. “Logically, when you want to fight for a world title, I think I’m in the best place – with an official team on an official bike.
“That’s when you have the weapons. There is plan b, plan c, like being on a satellite team with an official bike. Jorge Martin won the championship last year, but the ideal situation is the one I have.
“The Gresini team, as they have shown throughout their history in MotoGP, they won with Bastianini, they won with me, they haven’t won with Alex yet but they’re having a great season, they’re a great team.
“But what every rider looks for is the official team, and the red bike was the most sought after last year and it was the one we fought so hard for.”
How Honda’s 2026 MotoGP rider line-up could look if they sign Pedro Acosta
Marquez would personally welcome Acosta at Ducati, according to one of his confidantes. He’d relish the chance to fight him on equal machinery.
Acosta insists he doesn’t care about wages, so he wouldn’t necessarily choose Honda because they could offer a bigger contract than VR46. But after stepping up from Tech3 to KTM, he may be reluctant to return to a second-in-command team.
Should they secure his signature, Honda will demote Luca Marini to LCR. Acosta would form an all-Spanish line-up alongside Joan Mir.
Logically, Johann Zarco would be retained given his outstanding performances this year. But rookie Somkiat Chantra brings financial backing, and there may be a desire to give him more time.
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