Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta has been strongly linked with a move to the Ducati factory squad for the 2027 MotoGP season, but he may have to wait.
Acosta’s manager has all but confirmed he will leave KTM when his contract expires at the end of the season. Links between the series’ most prominent young talent and the top team on the grid are no surprise.
Indeed, it has been claimed in some quarters that Acosta has already signed a Ducati deal for next year.
Is Pedro Acosta joining Ducati inevitable?
Marc Marquez has reportedly agreed to stay at Ducati, but Francesco Bagnaia’s seat is still in play.
Pedro Acosta may sign one-year deal with VR46 MotoGP team
Ducati satellite team VR46 have openly expressed an interest in Acosta. They held talks with the Spaniard last year, but his KTM deal proved to be watertight.
As reported by GPOne, Acosta’s entourage – led by his manager Albert Valera – want him to join a factory team in 2027. But there’s a chance he will have to wait.
One scenario that’s ‘on the table’ would see Acosta sign a one-year deal at VR46, giving him a chance to ‘qualify’ for a 2028 Ducati seat. This could also amount to a stay of execution for Bagnaia.
What is your boldest prediction for the 2027 MotoGP rider market? 🔮
Valentino Rossi already knows his 2027 line-up, but he won’t disclose it publicly. GPOne say a potential reunion with Nicolo Bulega is also being ‘mentioned’.
A graduate of the VR46 academy, Bulega could make a ‘homecoming’ if he wins the World Superbike title. He has already joined Ducati’s MotoGP test team and scored points as a replacement for the injured Marquez at the end of last season.
An Acosta-Bulega line-up at VR46 would potentially be fatal to the MotoGP careers of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli, neither of whom was especially impressive in 2025.
What are Ducati staff saying about Pedro Acosta stories?
Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola made headlines last week when he predicted that Ducati will drop Bagnaia to sign Acosta. Inevitably, the world champions were asked to respond at their launch on Monday.
Marquez won’t comment on the Acosta links out of respect for Bagnaia, while Luigi Dall’Igna has told Rivola to focus on Aprilia.
2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo is also an option for Ducati as he considers leaving Yamaha.
It could be a three-horse race between Bagnaia, Acosta and Aldeguer for the seat alongside Marquez after Fermin Aldeguer’s unfortunate training crash effectively eliminated him from contention.
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