Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta have been tipped to clash as Ducati teammates, and Mauro Grassilli admits that that might transpire in 2027.
Ducati have announced Acosta for next season on a two-year deal from KTM. He will partner with Marquez, while Francesco Bagnaia will depart for Aprilia.
The Shark has longed for a competitive bike and to be on equal machinery as the Ant of Cervera. Acosta was even prepared to join Honda if Marquez did, just so he could share a garage with him.
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Mauro Grassilli admits Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta might clash at Ducati
Marquez agreed with Acosta’s signing, saying that it was the right choice for Ducati and the future of the team. It gives the Bologna Bullets perhaps one of the most exciting rider line-ups in history, and potentially one of the most tense.
Giacomo Agostini thinks ‘Spain will be on fire’ as Marquez and Acosta battle at Ducati. The pair have already had great battles on track, but the latter’s KTM RC16 has ultimately let him down.
On the same bike, the 22-year-old is being backed to really challenge his teammate, and possibly clash with him across the garage. Acosta insists there is no ‘rivalry’ with Marquez, but Mauro Grassilli is worried about ‘friction’ between them.
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Discussing Acosta’s signing via the #ZamTube YouTube channel, the Ducati director says the Spaniard has the passion to race for the team, and he is confident that they can manage any drama between him and Marquez.
“We don’t look at passports, we don’t look at nationality, but we certainly look at performance and we certainly look at attitude, and we look at how that particular rider can win over the hearts of Ducati fans – who, for us, are perhaps, without a doubt, the most important aspect of our company: our customers, our fans,” he said.
“Pedro, in our view, embodies all these characteristics and qualities of a Ducati fan. Well, he’s certainly extremely fast and extremely aggressive – in the positive sense of the word.
“In my view, he’s got the same passion deep down as we do; we just need to help him realise that over time. That’s it.”
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Asked if he is worried about any friction, Grassilli added: “Yes, but friction has to be created. As Gigi always says – and I agree with him on this too – it’s better to have two strong riders in the team and try to manage them than to have two strong riders against us.
“So there might be some friction because they’re both extremely strong riders; we know Marc well, but Pedro even less so, but let’s try to manage it better. They’re both professionals, remember?
“We had a problem when Enea arrived – there could have been friction, but in the end there wasn’t; with Marc, there could have been friction, but there wasn’t, so it might happen. I think we’re mature enough to handle it.”
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