Marco Bezzecchi
Despite the 2026 MotoGP season not even getting underway yet, the rider market for the following campaign is already one of the biggest topics of the year.
Due to the new era of regulations that will shake up the premier class in 2027, the majority of riders will see their current deals expire upon the conclusion of the upcoming term.
That means that nobody is safe in the current landscape of the MotoGP rider market, even if you are a multiple world champion, which is true in the case of Francesco Bagnaia.
The factory Ducati man is one of the leading names in the market who is facing the chopping block, and his future at Borgo Panigale looks to have already been decided.
Who would win as teammates, Francesco Bagnaia or Pedro Acosta?
MotoGP agents are under the impression that the 2027 grid will be set in stone at the 2026 season-opener
According to a report by Motorsport.com, several MotoGP agents have disclosed their perspective on the outcome of the rider market.
They all ‘agree’ that the line-ups of each factory outfit will be set in stone for 2027 by ‘early March, before bikes have even touched the ground for the season-opener in Thailand.
It was previously understood that Bagnaia would have the opening few rounds of the 2026 campaign to show Ducati that he still has what it takes to ride for the best constructor currently on the grid.
However, the report states that ‘nobody’ should believe that he has time to right his wrongs in the early stages of the upcoming season.
Ducati chiefs have one clear dilemma to iron out ahead of the season-opener: renew the Italian’s contract or pull the trigger on signing Pedro Acosta.
Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola tipped Acosta to be a Ducati rider in 2027, which didn’t go down well at all with Luigi Dall’Igna, who aimed a dig back at his Italian rival during Borgo Panigale’s season launch event.
- READ MORE: Marc Marquez did something Ducati had ‘never seen’ to protect struggling Francesco Bagnaia
Is there a better rider for Ducati to sign?
Francesco Bagnaia’s options for the 2027 MotoGP season
If Bagnaia’s fate at Ducati truly is sealed, then his most likely route from Borgo Panigale would be to secure a seat at one of the other factory teams on the grid.
A satellite ride for Bagnaia is ‘out of the question’ due to his status as a two-time premier class title-winner, meaning that he will need to cosy up to the bosses at Ducati’s rivals in order to claim his desired seat.
Rivola is tempted by the idea of signing Bagnaia, but that all depends on the future of Jorge Martin, who is yet to pledge his commitment to the Noale-based outfit following an injury-ridden tenure at the team.
In any case, #63 shouldn’t be short of suitors ahead of MotoGP’s new regulatory era. A move away from Borgo Panigale would mark the departure of Ducati’s most successful-ever rider in the premier class.
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