Rival MotoGP team boss says he’ll do ‘everything’ he can to sign Pedro Acosta from KTM

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Pedro Acosta is bound to be one of the most coveted riders in the 2026 rider market. He appears to be giving serious consideration to leaving KTM.

As he himself acknowledged in a recent interview, Acosta tried to leave KTM before the end of his contract but was prevented from doing so. After a difficult start, his form has improved and he still has an outside chance of a top-three finish in the standings, having scored nine podiums in total.

But Acosta wants to win. While he appears to be maximising the potential of the KTM bike based on the gap to the other riders, that’s not enough to reach the top step for the first time.

Honda are ready to triple Acosta’s salary, such is their determination to sign him. They’ve also been linked with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, another rider who’s bound to be at the top of shortlists amid dissatisfaction with his current surroundings.

Uccio Salucci openly admits VR46 will try to sign Pedro Acosta

Honda’s main competitor could be a Ducati satellite. VR46 held talks with Acosta when he was looking for a KTM escape route, and that interest remains.

MotoGP reporter Jack Appleyard recently said Acosta is unlikely to join Ducati alongside Marc Marquez because there could be too much tension. This may be an alternative solution.

Speaking to Speedweek, VR46’s Uccio Salucci openly admitted that he will do ‘everything’ he can to bring Acosta to Valentino Rossi’s team, ‘one of the greatest MotoGP talents’.

Rossi is a personal admirer of Acosta, whom he views as the ‘anti-Marquez’. But Salucci accepts that ‘everyone’ on the grid will be chasing his signature.

“Of course we want that, but it won’t be easy,” he said. “We have a seat available for him in 2027 and will do everything we can to get him.

“But we also have to consider that we still have work ahead of us in 2025 and throughout 2026. All the factory team seats are open for 2027. Maybe Ducati will offer him a seat, or Aprilia, I don’t know. Everyone wants a rider like Acosta.

“He is one of the greatest MotoGP talents. Aldeguer and Acosta are two very young and fast riders; they are currently the best of the youngsters.”

Which rider will lose their seat at VR46 if they sign Pedro Acosta?

Fabio di Giannantonio is under contract until the end of 2026, while Franco Morbidelli recently signed a one-year extension. That means VR46 will go into next year with two vacancies.

Assuming the team retain their dynamic of one Ducati-backed rider, to appease their suppliers, and one academy product, Di Giannantonio may be more vulnerable.

It’s pure speculation for now, but one could imagine Acosta signing a Ducati contract before joining VR46. He could then take the factory-spec bike from Di Giannantonio; indeed, he wouldn’t settle for any less.

Morbidelli is currently just one point ahead of his compatriot in the standings, so it’s very difficult to separate the two riders on performance alone.