Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta has spoken out about his MotoGP future amid claims that his move to Ducati is a done deal.
It was reported that Marc Marquez has approved Acosta’s move to Ducati, clearing the way for him to move straight to the factory team rather than satellite squad VR46. The youngster apparently feels that he can’t achieve his ambitions at KTM.
The news broke on a remarkable day in the MotoGP rider market, with Fabio Quartararo set to join Honda and fellow world champion Jorge Martin filling the spot at Yamaha.
Have Ducati made the right decision? 💣
Acosta had been linked with Honda himself, so the timing made sense, even though most riders haven’t even started testing.
Pedro Acosta insists he ‘hasn’t spoken to anyone’ in MotoGP rider market
Acosta was asked about his future in an interview with the Pont Group, which was shared on Manuel Pecino’s YouTube channel. It’s unclear when it was recorded, but if Acosta has signed for Ducati, the move has likely been in the works for a while.
Significantly, Acosta said he planned to take his time before choosing his next destination. The 2026 pecking order won’t necessarily be indicative of what to expect in 2027 given the changes to the regulations.
Riders will have a clearer picture once 2027 testing ramps up, though. The first in-season tests of the year are scheduled for late April and early May before the teams get their hands on the Pirelli prototypes in June and September.
Has Pedro Acosta lived up to the hype in his MotoGP career to date?
Acosta insists he hasn’t started negotiating his next contract because he’s focused on the season ahead.
“It’s all a lottery, isn’t it?” he said. “In the end, you have to take it easy. You shouldn’t make rash decisions. I think the best thing to do is to start the year, see how each rider reacts, and then we’ll have time to think about that.
“Right now, to tell you the truth, we haven’t spoken to anyone. In the end, I think I have a very good team behind me. We have to focus on getting a good result in ’26, which is what will make manufacturers take notice of me.”
Pedro Acosta directly contradicts his manager’s comments
In an interview earlier this month, Acosta’s manager said they wouldn’t wait until testing to make a decision. Instead, they would need to ‘take a shot in the dark’ based on the personnel at interested teams.
Albert Valera fears the market will move so quickly that Acosta’s hand will be forced. Thursday’s developments may have proved him right.
Acosta is clearly one of the most coveted riders in MotoGP, but suitors will be nervous. If they wait, and he signs for a rival, then their alternatives might already be unavailable.
Valera wasn’t willing to give Aprilia time in the case of Jorge Martin, and he might be pushing Acosta to lock in his destination, too.
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