Marco Bezzecchi
KTM have had to act fast on the MotoGP rider market for the 2027 season, and Maverick Vinales may have just revealed the team’s plans.
It has widely been reported that Pedro Acosta will leave KTM at the end of his contract in 2026. The Spaniard has expressed frustration about his lack of success in Austria, having tried to leave last year, until Dorna intervened.
Predict the order of the KTM riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
But in 2027, Acosta looks set to be joining Ducati, partnering with Marc Marquez. Furthermore, with Brad Binder’s future at KTM being up in the air, the team could be about to sign an all-new rider line-up in 2027.
Tech3 rider Vinales is set to be promoted to the factory team from 2027, having impressed KTM with his work behind the scenes and his efforts on track before injuries ruined his 2025 campaign. Next year, the Spaniard is rumoured to be partnering with Alex Marquez.
Maverick Vinales puts himself and Alex Marquez in KTM in 2027 MotoGP grid predictions
The Gresini rider’s contract expires at the end of the season. With three wins and 12 podiums, Marquez enjoyed his best MotoGP season to date in 2025, finishing runner-up in the standings.
While the Spaniard is comfortable at Gresini, he has expressed a desire to ride for a factory team. With Ducati having his brother Marc Marquez and Acosta on board for 2027, he will have to find another manufacturer.
Alex Marquez looks to be KTM-bound! 😲 Has he made the right choice leaving Gresini?
Aprilia and Yamaha have expressed interest in the 29-year-old, but according to reports, Alex Marquez is set to join KTM in 2027, partnering with Vinales.
There has been no official confirmation of either deal, but Vinales may have all but confirmed the line-up. In his 2027 grid predictions on MotoGP’s official YouTube channel, he placed himself and Marquez in the factory KTM team.
Moving the names to the KTM slot, he said: “For me, the factory team will be like this, as much as I know.” It would appear that Vinales has the information that would confirm the move.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
Maverick Vinales is gunning to be KTM’s top rider in 2026
Vinales would be ‘happy’ with Marquez joining KTM in 2027. It would give him extra competition within the Austrian outfit as he looks to become their top rider in 2026.
The Spaniard’s mentor, Jorge Lorenzo, saw ‘tension’ between Acosta and Vinales during pre-season testing at Sepang. The 21-year-old Murcian rider is apparently discontent with the idea that his compatriot could dethrone him at KTM.
Lorenzo has bet that Vinales will beat Acosta in 2026 with his manager, Albert Valera. The three-time MotoGP champion has high hopes for his riders, and as it happens, so does KTM.
KTM insiders think Vinales will win a race before Acosta in 2026. The latter is still without a win in the premier class after two impressive seasons.
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