Marco Bezzecchi
CEO Claudio Domenicali says Ducati will sit down and consider their line-up for 2027 after the 2026 Sepang test, and KTM’s Pedro Acosta is not the only name on their list.
The 21-year-old is widely being touted for a move to Borgo Panigale for the 2027 season, as Ducati are now expected to release Francesco Bagnaia at the end of his contract. It has even been said that Ducati are on the cusp of signing Acosta, with his KTM contract also expiring.
Acosta has attracted vast interest throughout the MotoGP paddock after emerging as one of the brightest talents on the grid, without having a bike with which he feels he can challenge for the top prizes. But Ducati look set to win the race to sign Acosta on a two-year contract.
Ducati are believed to be waiting on finalising a new two-year contract for Marc Marquez in the coming days or weeks before they also get Acosta to put pen to paper. Yet Domenicali is clear that Ducati have not made a final decision on who will partner Marquez in red in 2027.
Predict the order of the Ducati riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Ducati want the ‘most promising’ rider to partner Marc Marquez in 2027 amid Pedro Acosta links
Domenicali is a huge fan of Acosta and what the KTM rider has already achieved in his world championship career. Ducati CEO Domenicali has previously said he is “certain” Acosta will become a MotoGP champion, after winning the 2021 Moto3 title and also 2023 Moto2 title.
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But Domenicali says Ducati are also considering where World Superbike racer Nicolo Bulega fits into their MotoGP plans, with the Italian brand trying to sign the “most promising” rider to partner Marquez from 2027. Bulega will also help Ducati develop their 850cc bike for 2027.
Domenicali told Sky Italy: “There are still a few days and let’s get through this test session, and then we’ll see what happens. But yes, there aren’t many [options].
“Nicolo, for example, is a guy we really care about who will be part of our 2026 programme, and I think that happens during the renewal part. Anyway, we worked very well together because he was interested.
“If we also had to test the 2027 bike with the Pirellis with a lower displacement and power closer to the Superbike, I think Nicolo is really perfect.
“Nicolo is one of the guys we’ll look at. Obviously, we have him in the team and there’s a lot of talk about Pedro. But, basically, these are names that are a bit predictable.
“The jobs of those who manage the team are trying to put the most promising riders on the best bike ever, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Claudio Domenicali admits ‘not everything is fine’ with Marc Marquez’s new Ducati contract
Predict the order of the KTM riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Domenicali has also addressed where Ducati are at regarding Marquez’s new contract, with the 32-year-old currently a free agent at the end of 2026. Several Ducati chiefs have stated that Marquez’s contract is their “priority”, after he won 11 races en route to the 2025 title.
Marquez is expected to agree to a new two-year contract for Ducati and lead them into the 850cc regulations in 2027. But Domenicali notes that “not everything” is finalised, despite Ducati making progress in their negotiations with Marquez since revealing their 2026 bike.
Domenicali added: “Since the presentation, we’ve made some progress and we’re definitely closer. Not everything is fine yet, but we’re not far away.”
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