Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta is out of contract with KTM at the end of the 2026 MotoGP season, and his sights are set on joining the works Ducati team ahead of the 2027 regulations era.
MotoGP will begin a new chapter next season, when the championship moves from 1,000cc to 850cc engines, bans the ride height devices and further restricts aerodynamics. Pirelli will also replace Michelin as the sole tyre provider to the premier class from the 2027 campaign.
Ducati have dominated the current era of MotoGP, after general manager Luigi Dall’Igna led their aero revolution and the creation of ride height devices. Marc Marquez won the fourth title by a Ducati rider in a row in 2025, as Ducati also won a sixth constructors’ title in a row.
Acosta now wants a slice of the Ducati success, having lost confidence in KTM providing him with a title-winning bike. The 21-year-old made his MotoGP debut aboard the RC16 at Tech3 in 2024 before joining the factory KTM team in 2025, but he is yet to win his first Grand Prix.
Finish the sentence: In 2027, Pedro Acosta will ride for…
Pedro Acosta is happy to accept ‘whatever’ Ducati offer him to join in 2027
A vacancy is expected to open in Borgo Panigale next season, as reports suggest that Ducati have already decided to replace Francesco Bagnaia. It is also said that Ducati share Acosta’s very keen interest in joining forces from 2027, as they search for Marquez’s new teammate.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend
Acosta is also ‘willing to accept whatever’ Ducati offer him to ensure that he joins the Borgo Panigale brand’s works team in 2027. That is according to Motorsport.com, which notes the Spaniard is at the front of the queue to be Marquez’s teammate, should Ducati axe Bagnaia.
KTM star Acosta values the chance to ride a factory Ducati under the 2027 regulations much more than any financial incentives. Ducati might not have vast riches to offer Acosta, too, as Marquez’s expected new contract through 2028 is likely to need most of the team’s budget.
Ducati gave Marquez a similar demand to the one that Acosta would face when the 32-year-old joined them from Gresini in 2025. Marquez had to accept an inferior wage to join Ducati as the team held the position of power, by having the bike that every rider wanted to be on.
Pedro Acosta could get more money by joining Honda instead of Ducati
As Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP title with five rounds to spare after joining Ducati, he is now in the position of power in Borgo Panigale. Ducati do not want to lose the best rider on the current grid, which should leave Marquez’s would-be teammate to accept the leftovers.
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Marc Marquez’s new Ducati contract looks a done deal 👀 but who should be his teammate in 2027?
If money were a bigger factor in Acosta’s decision, he could potentially join Honda instead of Ducati in 2027. It is said that Honda are willing to give Acosta a big stack of money to secure his services, as the Japanese squad are waving their chequebook at every big-name rider.
Honda’s budget dwarfs Ducati’s resources, but the Tokyo crew have struggled to get back to winning titles since Marquez won his sixth and final title with the brand in 2019. So, Acosta would also have to decide if he thinks Honda can topple Ducati under the 2027 regulations.
Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi believes Acosta is “the future of MotoGP”, and he has no doubts that the Spaniard can win a premier class title one day. Acosta has blown Tardozzi away ever since he broke onto the world stage and bagged the 2021 Moto3 title as a rookie.
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