Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta has been heavily linked with a factory Ducati seat for the 2027 MotoGP season, and Dani Pedrosa may have just dropped the biggest hint that the deal is already done.
Even though the new premier season hasn’t even properly started yet, the MotoGP rider market for the 2027 campaign is already in full swing.
Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Martin are understood to have signed agreements to seal their exits from Yamaha and Aprilia, respectively, and it has also been suggested that Pedro Acosta has followed suit.
The Spaniard has been unhappy with the calibre of KTM’s machinery for a long while now, and Acosta has already predicted another ‘year of suffering’ for himself due to the impressive lap times Ducati riders were clocking in at pre-season testing in Sepang.
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Dani Pedrosa hints that Ducati have made a ‘good move’ in the 2027 MotoGP rider market
Acosta was reported to have signed a deal with Ducati in January, ahead of the first official week of pre-season testing.
Borgo Panigale have been courting the KTM star for several months now, with Acosta being widely regarded as one of the most promising talents on the grid.
Now, during a recent appearance on DAZN, KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa may have just dropped the biggest hint that the 21-year-old will be riding in red next season during his assessment of the 2027 rider market.
The 31-time Grand Prix winner initially noted how quickly the deals are being completed, highlighting, “It’s the fastest market in recent memory; almost the entire grid will be set before the first day of testing.”
Pedrosa then added, “Not everyone is confirmed, but Ducati have made a good move.”
What makes the Spaniard’s comment so damning is the fact that the Italian constructor hasn’t been rumoured to have completed any move other than the one involving Acosta.
- READ MORE: Pedro Acosta shares ‘the truth’ about his MotoGP future amid rumours he’s signed for Ducati
Predict the order of the Ducati riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Pedro Acosta is expected to replace Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati next year
With Acosta expected to enter Borgo Panigale as one of their factory riders, it remains to be seen what’s next for Ducati die-hard Francesco Bagnaia.
They are currently prioritising a new deal for the 2025 title-winner, Marc Marquez, over the Italian, which indicates that he will be the one who moves on to make space for the incoming Acosta.
Bagnaia has since been linked with several teams on the grid, with Aprilia being identified as the ‘best option’ for #63 as he looks to regain some confidence in his abilities following a disappointing 2025 campaign.
It seems like the Turin-native’s two world championships that he brought back to Bologna weren’t enough to secure himself some time to turn things around, and his departure will mark the exit of Ducati’s most successful ever rider at this moment in time.
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