KTM are facing a troubling few months on and off the track in MotoGP as they risk losing star rider Pedro Acosta and dropping out of the sport entirely.
The Austrian manufacturer were in insolvency over the winter period, reporting huge debt. While their new majority shareholders Bajaj Auto have saved the company, their racing division still faces uncertainty as they hope to improve bike sales.
Bajaj want to cut KTM’s costs by 50%, including their racing projects. It is feared that it could affect their MotoGP division, with rumours earlier in the year speculating that Bajaj could sell satellite team Tech3 and run with just the factory team.
Bajaj selling KTM cannot be ruled out either, which puts their riders’ futures in jeopardy. Their biggest problem now is keeping hold of Acosta, who tried to break his contract earlier in 2025 due to a lack of confidence in the project.

Pit Beirer has been given the ‘all clear’ to negotiate KTM’s MotoGP contract beyond 2027 amid Pedro Acosta exit rumours
KTM boss Pit Beirer previously revealed cuts are already happening across the company. However, journalist Neil Morrison says this will not affect the MotoGP project, after speaking to him at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Beirer has the ‘all clear’ to negotiate KTM’s contract in the premier class beyond 2027. But Morrison stressed that the team must prove to Acosta that they can build a competitive bike, or he will seek pastures new.
“I mean, Bajaj are obviously going to make some pretty massive, hefty cuts to the budget, but right across the board,” said Morrison via the Paddock Pass Podcast.
“Pit was pretty insistent that that’s not going to affect the racing program in MotoGP. They’re going to have to make some cuts in other disciplines in reducing their factory squads, the number of factory contracted riders and teams.
“But he was adamant that this has no impact on their plans for 2027, for example. He was saying that he has been given the all clear to push ahead to sign a contract extension to stay in MotoGP going forward from 2027.
“And what can they do to convince Pedro Acosta? I mean, it’s quite like Yamaha with Fabio Quartararo.
“They need to show up in Valencia with a clear step forward and then they need to double down on that at Sepang and basically show Pedro Acosta that he has a bike under him that is maybe capable of winning the championship.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend

Pedro Acosta is eyeing a move to Ducati amid KTM future doubts
KTM have made strong steps forward in recent months, with Acosta grabbing 11 podiums across 2025. He is the manufacturer’s top rider and the bike is steadily improving, but he wants to be fighting for a championship.
Acosta is ‘very obsessed’ with joining Ducati, with the Borgo Panigale outfit having the best bike on the MotoGP grid. VR46 and Valentino Rossi expressed an interest in signing him for 2026, but Dorna blocked any rider from breaking their contracts.
| TEAM | BIKE | RIDER 1 | RIDER 2 |
| Aprilia | Aprilia RS-GP | Jorge Martin | Marco Bezzecchi |
| Trackhouse | Aprilia RS-GP | Ai Ogura | Raul Fernandez |
| Ducati | Ducati Desmosedici | Marc Marquez | Francesco Bagnaia |
| VR46 | Ducati Desmosedici | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Franco Morbidelli |
| Gresini | Ducati Desmosedici | Alex Marquez | Fermin Aldeguer |
| Honda | Honda RC213V | Joan Mir | Luca Marini |
| LCR | Honda RC213V | Johann Zarco | Diogo Moreira |
| KTM | KTM RC16 | Pedro Acosta | Brad Binder |
| Tech3 | KTM RC16 | Maverick Vinales | Enea Bastianini |
| Yamaha | Yamaha YZR-M1 | Fabio Quartararo | Alex Rins |
| Pramac | Yamaha YZR-M1 | Toprak Razgatlioglou | Jack Miller |
Uccio Salucci says VR46 will do ‘everything’ to sign Acosta for 2027; he is a free agent at the end of next season. Unless KTM can provide him with a machine that is capable of winning, he could be bound for Rossi’s squad.
KTM’s new upgrades could bring Acosta closer to the Ducatis, according to Pol Espargaro. This may convince him to stay beyond 2026, but winning races will be the ultimate goal for the Spaniard.
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