Ducati’s factory team confirmed on August 24, 2026, that Pedro Acosta will join Marc Márquez as his teammate for the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons. The move places Acosta, 11 years Márquez’s junior, in one of the sport’s top teams, presenting what officials described as the biggest challenge of his career to match or surpass the multi-time world champion.
Acosta, 20, arrives at Ducati after three MotoGP seasons marked by rapid development and notable challenges. According to MotoGP officials, he made his premier-class debut in 2024 with Tech3 KTM, achieving nine podiums and finishing sixth overall despite describing the year as “error-prone” with multiple crashes and lost points. Acosta himself rated his rookie season between 4.5 and 6 out of 10, citing poor qualifying and race starts as key weaknesses that hindered his results despite often having the fastest race pace.
He made his premier-class debut in 2024 with Tech3 KTM, achieving nine podiums and finishing sixth overall despite describing the year as “error-prone” with multiple crashes and lost points.
In 2025, Acosta was promoted to the factory KTM team, a move he had anticipated with enthusiasm. However, he later characterized that season as “wasted,” acknowledging the team’s limitations and his own struggles to contend for victories or the championship. After the Valencia finale, he expressed frustration that “we haven’t fought for anything,” but also noted that “every situation is making me better,” signaling his view of the difficult campaign as part of his growth. Sources close to Acosta confirmed that he focused on improving consistency and control throughout the 2025 season, particularly addressing issues that led to crashes during practice and qualifying sessions.
Mental preparation has been a critical focus for Acosta. In a February 2025 interview, he said he had “been living with pressure since I was 16,” reflecting on the high expectations placed on him since his junior racing days. He admitted that his rookie year suffered from a lack of calmness and consistency, often pushing too hard and making mistakes. Acosta credited advice from mentor Aki Ajo to “keep calm” and emphasized that MotoGP “needs more brain.” By late 2025, he reported improved confidence and a more professional approach, aiming to “focus on myself” and avoid dwelling on setbacks. This mental shift coincided with a stronger finish to the season and a foundation for future progress.
Technically, Acosta has concentrated on improving qualifying performance and race starts, areas he identified as crucial after frequently having to recover from poor grid positions. At the 2025 KTM team launch, he revealed that he spent the winter working specifically on these aspects, along with managing race pace more effectively to reduce errors. He also highlighted safety and stability improvements observed during pre-season testing, stating that the team was “more competitive, more safe from crashes.” Acosta expressed confidence that combining these gains with better qualifying would enable him to regularly challenge for podiums and victories.
The move to Ducati’s factory team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons places Acosta alongside six-time world champion Marc Márquez, who is 11 years his senior. Ducati officials described the pairing as “one of MotoGP’s worst-kept secrets” and framed it as the “biggest MotoGP challenge of all” for Acosta. The factory Ducati squad is widely regarded as the benchmark package on the grid in recent years, making this a significant step up in terms of equipment and expectations. Sources within Ducati confirmed that Acosta’s signing reflects confidence in his raw speed and potential to develop into a title contender.
Acosta’s career trajectory includes rapid ascents through Moto3 and Moto2, where he won championships before debuting in MotoGP in 2024. Official MotoGP records show he has yet to secure his first premier-class victory but is considered one of the grid’s most competitive young riders. His time with Tech3 KTM and the factory KTM team has provided a broad range of experience, including the difficult 2025 season he described as a learning period. According to insiders, his preparation for joining Ducati involves integrating lessons from his early MotoGP years with a refined mental and technical approach aimed at converting speed into consistent results.
As the 2026 MotoGP season unfolds, Acosta’s performance will be closely watched as he prepares to make the transition to Ducati’s factory team. His ability to improve qualifying, race starts, and consistency will be critical in meeting the challenge of competing alongside Márquez and pursuing his first premier-class title.
