Pedro Acosta’s agent quietly met with 25-win team boss in MotoGP paddock as KTM exit routes assessed

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Pedro Acosta is considering whether to leave KTM only months after joining the factory squad. The move hasn’t panned out as he’d hoped.

As a company, KTM are in the midst of a financial crisis that has endangered their future participation in motorsport. It’s unclear whether they’ll continue in MotoGP beyond the end of the current rule cycle in 2026, even after a restructuring plan was approved.

Team bosses have insisted that the crisis won’t affect on-track performance. But rather than closing the gap to Ducati, the Austrian manufacturer have been caught up by Yamaha and Honda.

Maverick Vinales thought he’d scored a spectacular podium for Tech3 at the previous race in Qatar, only to receive a 16-second penalty for a tyre-pressure breach. The narrative could change if the team start performing at that level consistently.

But Acosta has only averaged six points per weekend so far, leaving him 11th in the championship. While he’s qualified in the top five twice, he hasn’t finished a Grand Prix higher than eighth.

Albert Valera meets with Alberto Puig to discuss Pedro Acosta’s future – the details

According to a report from Motorsport Espana, Acosta’s agent Albert Valera is quietly ‘looking for possible destinations’. His client hasn’t committed to leaving KTM yet, but is clearly weighing up his options.

To that end, Valera met with Honda team boss Alberto Puig in the Qatar Grand Prix paddock earlier this month. Puig, who has overseen 25 victories since being appointed to his role in 2018, returned after an injury-related absence.

Acosta is under contract for 2026, but the deal doesn’t seem to be completely watertight.

Indeed, a recent report claims KTM missed a deadline to ‘lock in’ Acosta for next year. That may be why he hinted at a ‘turning point’ in a social media post with Valera.

Honda could also buy Acosta out of his agreement, which would cost around £4.3m. That may be seen as a suitable price tag for a franchise rider.

Honda’s major advantage over VR46 in Pedro Acosta battle

Along with Honda, VR46 are also determined to sign Acosta. Team owner Valentino Rossi has been working hard to negotiate a deal.

However, Marc Marquez says every MotoGP rider wants to join a factory team. VR46 are more competitive than Honda right now due to their Ducati partnership, but Acosta needs to make his decision based on the 2027 regulation changes.

Financially, a move to VR46 for the 2026 season may not be realistic. Even if they could muster the funds to buy him out, they may need to pay off one of their current riders, both of whom are under contract.

On the other hand, Luca Marini is the obvious casualty if Honda sign Acosta. Marini is approaching the end of his deal, though Puig would like to keep him onboard at LCR.