Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta is bound for Ducati in 2027 after reportedly signing a contract with the factory team.
Acosta intends to leave KTM at the end of his contract in 2026. The Spaniard is frustrated about the Austrian outfit’s uncompetitive bike.
Has Pedro Acosta lived up to the hype in his MotoGP career to date?
Despite scoring 12 podiums, including Sprint races, in the second half of 2025, Acosta called his season a ‘wasted year of life’. He wants to be winning races in MotoGP, and he is not convinced that KTM can give him the tools to do that.
The 21-year-old had tried to break his KTM contract in 2025, but Dorna blocked the move as they wanted riders to honour their agreements. VR46 have been heavily interested in Acosta since last year, but it appears that he will be thrust straight into the factory Ducati team.
Ducati executives felt ‘forced’ to sign Pedro Acosta in a ‘damage-prevention strategy’
Marc Marquez thwarted Rossi’s plan to sign Acosta at VR46. The Ant of Cervera could have blocked the KTM rider’s move to Ducati, but he chose not to, with the fellow Spaniard being viewed as his successor in MotoGP.
With Marquez’s seal of approval, the Bologna Bullets have their rider pairing secured for 2027, with Acosta set to replace Francesco Bagnaia. This approach can be seen as aggressive, especially as the Italian was not given his chance to revive his form in 2026.
However, as per a report from Motorsport.com, Ducati executives took this route in the MotoGP rider market for ‘damage prevention’ and acted fast to secure Acosta’s signature.
The ‘urgency of the market’, combined with Marquez signing a new contract and the demands that came with it, ‘forced’ Ducati’s bosses to secure a ‘top-tier rider’. They have now got their man in Acosta.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend
Pedro Acosta has spoken out about his MotoGP future amid Ducati links
Amid the rumours that he is bound for the factory red of Ducati, Acosta claims he has not spoken to any team about 2027.
This directly contrasts with what his manager has said about his future. Albert Valera says Acosta would not wait until testing to secure his 2027 contract.
According to reports, it seems that Valera has acted quickly to secure his rider’s future after deciding to leave KTM. It also appears that the Austrian outfit have signed his replacement
Alex Marquez is set to join KTM from Gresini as he wants to ride for a factory team in 2027. He will be paired with Maverick Vinales, who looks likely to replace Brad Binder.
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