Ducati confirmed Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta as its factory riders for the 2027 MotoGP season, with Márquez signing a two-year extension and Acosta joining from KTM, officials said in June 2026. The team replaced Francesco Bagnaia, who signed a four-year deal with Aprilia, prompting a reshuffle that Aprilia confirmed with Marco Bezzecchi as Bagnaia’s new teammate.
Ducati’s announcement in late June 2026 confirmed Marc Márquez would remain with the Ducati Lenovo Team through the 2028 season, signing a two-year contract extension covering 2027 and 2028, officials said. Márquez enters the 2027 season as the reigning MotoGP world champion and will lead Ducati’s title defense. The team’s other factory rider will be Pedro Acosta, who joins Ducati on a two-year deal from KTM, marking his first departure from the Austrian manufacturer since his grand prix debut, sources confirmed.
This pairing creates an all-Spanish Ducati factory lineup for 2027, ending a 17-year tradition of having at least one Italian rider on the team, according to MotoGP records and team statements.
The departure of Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati triggered a significant reshuffle in the MotoGP paddock. Bagnaia signed a four-year contract with Aprilia starting in 2027, with the deal reportedly extending through 2030, Aprilia officials confirmed. Bagnaia will partner with Marco Bezzecchi, whose contract with Aprilia was secured earlier in February 2026. Aprilia’s announcement followed Ducati’s Márquez–Acosta confirmation, framing the Italian manufacturer as a primary challenger to Ducati’s dominance in the upcoming season, according to industry analysts.
KTM responded swiftly to losing Acosta by signing Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio to its factory team on two-year contracts covering 2027 and 2028. The signings were announced within hours of each other on a Monday night (AEST), underscoring KTM’s rapid reaction, sources said. Alex Márquez, the 2025 world championship runner-up, and Di Giannantonio, recognized as a standout performer in the 2026 season, are seen by KTM as experienced riders tasked with stabilizing the factory team in a post-Acosta era, according to KTM communications.
Gresini Ducati confirmed Joan Mir and Dani Holgado as its 2027 lineup. Mir, the 2020 MotoGP world champion, returns to a Ducati satellite team after previous seasons with Suzuki and Honda-affiliated squads, the team announced. Holgado, a Moto2 graduate who finished fifth in the 2026 Moto2 World Championship, was promoted over Manuel Gonzalez, the season’s dominant Moto2 rider, a decision described as notable by transfer market commentators. The confirmation of Gresini’s lineup reduces the number of unconfirmed seats on the grid, officials said.
Within the VR46 Ducati team, Fermin Aldeguer is confirmed for 2027, while the second seat remains contested between Nicolo Bulega and Luca Marini. Recent reports from Speedweek and MotoGP insiders indicate that Bulega is the likely candidate, but the team has not publicly announced a final decision. VR46 Ducati’s structure continues to serve as a development pathway for young talent, with Aldeguer and Bulega or Marini positioned as potential future factory riders, according to multiple sources.
Several teams have yet to finalize or publicly announce their full 2027 rider rosters. Trackhouse-Aprilia, VR46 Ducati’s second seat, Tech3 KTM, and Pramac Yamaha remain with open positions, according to mid-2026 coverage. Tech3 KTM, in particular, has not decided between Luca Marini, Senna Agius, or Manuel Gonzalez for its rider lineup, with all three names reportedly under consideration. Additionally, Honda’s factory team has one seat confirmed for Fabio Quartararo, with the second rider still to be announced. LCR Honda also has an open seat, as per official MotoGP updates.
Overall, the 2027 MotoGP rider lineup is taking shape but is not yet complete, with most key factory seats finalized. Ducati’s retention of Márquez and signing of Acosta, Aprilia’s acquisition of Bagnaia alongside Bezzecchi, and KTM’s rapid restructuring with Márquez and Di Giannantonio represent the most significant confirmed moves to date, according to MotoGP officials and team communications. Further announcements are expected in the coming months as teams finalize contracts ahead of the new regulations era set to begin in 2027.
