Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez are now fighting to join the same MotoGP team for the 2027 season after Ducati chose to sign Pedro Acosta to partner Marc Marquez.
The Borgo Panigale natives have moved early to lock up their line-up for the start of the new regulatory cycle. Marc Marquez was set to be out of contract with Ducati at the end of 2026, when Acosta is also set to be out of contract with KTM after two years in their factory outfit.
It is understood that Marc Marquez has agreed to sign a new two-year Ducati contract, after the Bologna Bullets made retaining the Spaniard their priority after he won the 2025 title. It is also now believed that Acosta has agreed to join Ducati on a two-year contract from 2027.
Acosta is set to replace Bagnaia at Ducati, as the 2022 and 2023 champion’s contract with the Italian factory expires at the end of this year. Alex Marquez is also due to be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, with his contract for Gresini another deal that is set to expire.
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Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez are fighting to join Yamaha in 2027
Alex Marquez is not currently looking to sign a new contract with Gresini, as the 29-year-old thinks now is the time for him to join a factory MotoGP team. The Spaniard finished second to his brother in the 2025 championship, but he is still paid far below what his results merit.
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That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports that Gresini paid Marquez slightly over €350,000 (£300k) in 2025. So, Marquez has now set his sights on joining the works Yamaha or works KTM team in 2027, with Aprilia his ‘fallback option’ ahead of re-signing for Gresini.
The 2014 Moto3 and 2019 Moto2 champion is ‘quietly but swiftly’ discussing his options for a factory MotoGP ride in 2027, and views Yamaha and KTM as his ‘top targets’. Yamaha are also slightly ahead of KTM in Marquez’s plans, owing to the latter’s ongoing financial issues.
But Bagnaia is also one of the riders now vying to join Yamaha in 2027, after Ducati chose to replace the 29-year-old with Acosta. Marquez would even face competition from Yamaha’s current riders, with Pramac rider Toprak Razgatlioglu thought to be in Yamaha’s 2027 plans.
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Who do you want as Jorge Martin’s 2027 Yamaha teammate?
Yamaha bosses had dreamed of fielding Razgatlioglu in a star-studded line-up next to Fabio Quartararo in 2027, should the former impress during his rookie MotoGP season with their satellite team Pramac in 2026. Yet Quartararo is set to leave Yamaha at the end of this year.
It is said that Quartararo has agreed to leave Yamaha for Honda on a two-year contract from 2027, having lost patience with the Iwata squad. Reports also suggest Yamaha are in talks to sign Jorge Martin for the 2027 season, with the Spaniard’s Aprilia contract expiring this year.
Now, instead of a boasting a line-up featuring Razgatlioglu and Quartararo, Yamaha could be looking at a line-up featuring Martin and Marquez or Bagnaia in 2027. With so many options to consider, Yamaha might take their time before deciding who to sign as their second rider.
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