Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta is going to be one of the hottest prospects on the MotoGP rider market heading into 2026.
With the Spaniard’s KTM contract set to expire, expect every manufacturer to table him an offer heading into the new regulations. It’s a sort of blind decision, but he does have an idea of the sort of people he wants to surround himself with.
Despite being nowhere in the first half of the campaign, Acosta still somehow has a chance of finishing third in the MotoGP standings this year. No KTM rider has ever achieved that feat, with Brad Binder coming close in 2023 when he finished fourth.
Acosta reminds a colleague of Valentino Rossi, and some of the results he is starting to produce match that sort of reputation. Acosta wants his manager to get him out of KTM, but he has to be patient. Rushing into any decision won’t do him any favours.
READ MORE: Carlo Pernat has seen ‘phenomenon’ Pedro Acosta do something at KTM that Brad Binder cannot
Pedro Acosta’s pace and defensive ability show why he can compete for the 2026 MotoGP title
Acosta is better than Alex Marquez, according to the views of Mat Oxley, and that’s quite glowing praise. The Spaniard has just secured second in the standings and is enjoying his best season in the championship, so it reflects well on the KTM rider.
Despite not being where they would like to be, Acosta feels KTM can be title contenders in 2027, and recent improvements to the RC16 might have helped to sway his opinion. Their bike has definitely improved since the summer break.
More recently, it’s Acosta who has been doing the performing. Over the last three events, he has finished five of the six races on offer in the top five, and four of them on the podium. That’s a stellar turnaround for someone on the third-best (Aprilia and Ducati are generally faster).
He’s outperforming his machinery and finding a way to produce results on a lesser bike. All KTM needs to do next year is give him half a bike, and he should be able to compete with the likes of Marc Marquez, whose preparation for 2026 is less than ideal as he remains out with a shoulder injury.
Why Pedro Acosta has a big opportunity before the end of the 2025 MotoGP season
There are two races left for Acosta to make the most of Marquez’s injury absence before the seven-time champion returns for the start of next season.
The likes of Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez and Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer have managed to win their first races recently, so Acosta’s chance must come soon.
One of the main problems he faces is that his bike tends to struggle as the Grands Prix go on. Tyre wear affects them more than their rivals.
That’s why, despite still awaiting a maiden win, Acosta has the potential to be a key player in the 2026 MotoGP title fight.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
