Jorge Lorenzo names the MotoGP rider who would be truly ‘scary’ on a Ducati

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Ducati’s MotoGP rider line-up is likely to remain the same for the 2026 MotoGP season. All but one of their riders are under contract.

VR46’s Franco Morbidelli is the exception, but there’s no indication that Valentino Rossi is looking to make any changes. Next year’s MotoGP rider market could see a reshuffle, however.

Marc Marquez could become the greatest Ducati rider ever, so they will of course be desperate to hold onto him. Alex Marquez could push for a factory move after impressing at the satellite Gresini team.

Ducati are also talking to Fabio di Giannantonio about 2027. There’s excitement around Fermin Aldeguer but the rookie still needs to prove himself, and while Ducati say that Francesco Bagnaia retains their full support, he could come under pressure if he has another difficult season.

Jorge Lorenzo is the MotoGP youngster he rates the highest

There will be some MotoGP superstars on the market ahead of 2027. Fabio Quartararo is frustrated with Yamaha, and Pedro Acosta has also expressed impatience at KTM.

Acosta has been heavily linked with VR46, though the second-in-command team suspect he will prioritise a factory Ducati ride. Speaking on the Mig Babol podcast, Jorge Lorenzo said he would be ‘scary’ on a Desmosedici motorcycle.

Lorenzo, a three-time MotoGP champion, says Acosta has the perfect mentality, and just needs to make a subtle change to his riding style to become ‘even more complete’. He is occasionally too ‘exaggerated’ when entering corners.

Acosta had to wait until round 12 of 22 at Brno to score KTM’s first Grand Prix podium of the 2025 season.

“There are some riders I like for the future,” said Lorenzo. “The one I like most is Acosta. In my opinion, he would be scary on a Ducati.

“He’s very young, very strong. Above all, he has the grit and the hunger to win straight away, as soon as possible. He’s not happy when he gets second or he gets third.

“Now with the KTM, he’s having a bit of difficulty. The only thing I’d say is that he’s a bit extreme in his corner entry – super tight, which is an advantage in certain circumstances where he really manages to close the corner incredibly well.

“However, in my opinion, he’s a bit too exaggerated in certain corners. If he takes a middle ground in certain corners, he will become an even more complete rider.”

The sign that Marc Marquez views Pedro Acosta as a threat

Acosta may privately be targeting Bagnaia’s seat next to Marquez at Ducati, if indeed a satellite ride won’t satisfy. He’s been widely called the next Marquez.

Marquez regards Acosta as an ‘incredibly talented’ rider, but wouldn’t be drawn on how he’d fare on a Ducati. Some MotoGP fans will be longing for the Ant of Cervera to face a greater challenge after he rattled off eight wins from 12 races.

There appeared to be slight tension between Marquez and Acosta after the Brno Sprint, where they finished first and second respectively. The former may view the latter as a long-term threat.

Acosta doesn’t like being called Marquez 2.0, a moniker that brings enormous pressure. He’ll naturally want to forge his own legacy in the class, too.