Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta cemented his status as the new leader of the KTM project in 2025, yet his days in Austria may already be numbered ahead of his contract expiring in 2026.
The 21-year-old moved into the factory KTM team in 2025 after spending his rookie season in 2024 with Tech3. But KTM only signed Acosta to a two-year contract, which the Spaniard even tried to get out of last year following the Munderfing-based outfit’s financial troubles.
Acosta openly admitted to trying to leave KTM in 2025, as he developed doubts about their project and even questioned himself when results were not immediately forthcoming. KTM only saw Acosta score his first podium of 2025 in round 12, with P3 in the Czech Grand Prix.
Brno was a turning point, too, as Acosta changed his mindset and focused on what he could achieve. He scored five podiums from the final 11 Grands Prix to rise to fourth in the riders’ standings on 307 points. Brad Binder was the second-best KTM rider in 11th on 155 points.
Finish the sentence: In 2027, Pedro Acosta will ride for…
Pedro Acosta has Ducati and Honda ‘in his sights’ should he decide to leave KTM
Acosta’s concerns about KTM’s ability to compete at the front remain, though, and he is not afraid to jump ship ahead of the 2027 MotoGP regulations. Motorsport.com reports that he might even only stay at KTM if they can hand him a ‘rocket ship’ in 2026 pre-season testing.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend
KTM executives did not even sit down to discuss their price for Acosta’s release in 2025. But Acosta’s contract situation means the Austrian brand know they have to show him that they can improve their bike to compete for the MotoGP title, otherwise he will join a rival brand.
Mazarron native Acosta also already has two teams ‘in his sights’, should he decide to leave KTM, with Ducati and Honda both on his radar. Acosta also aims to finalise his future before the 2026 season starts at the Thai Grand Prix, potentially giving KTM just two more months.
Ducati and Honda share Pedro Acosta’s interest in a move for the 2027 MotoGP season
The 2026 MotoGP season will start with the Thai GP on March 1 at Buriram, where the final pre-season test will also take place on February 21-22. Testing for the new season begins at Sepang on February 3-5, after the Shakedown on January 29-30 for rookies and test riders.
Honda and Ducati will no doubt pay very close attention to how KTM’s final iteration of the 1,000cc RC16 stacks up at Sepang to gauge how desperate Acosta will be to change teams. The Japanese and Italian brands have already shown an interest in his potential availability.
READ MORE: All you need to know about the 2026 MotoGP season from calendar to riders
Fermin Aldeguer had a better 2025 MotoGP season than Pedro Acosta, prove me wrong
Reports emerged in October that suggested that Honda have already made Acosta a mega offer to join in 2027, with Luca Marini and Joan Mir both set to be out of contract at the end of 2026. LCR riders Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira have factory Honda contracts for 2027.
More recent reports have also suggested that Acosta has already signed a contract for 2027, with the expectation being that he has agreed to join Ducati. The Borgo Panigale brand have decisions to make with Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia also out of contract in 2026.
The Bologna Bullets could even field an entirely new line-up in 2027, as Marquez is open to rejoining Honda in 2027 if he does not fully believe in Ducati’s 850cc bike. Ducati could sign Acosta and Nicolo Bulega for 2027, with the World Superbike star expected to switch series.
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