Ducati Offers Pedro Acosta a Potential Move for 2026
In a surprising development, reports from Spain suggest that Pedro Acosta could be on track to join Ducati in 2026.
According to AS, Acosta has the opportunity to make a switch if KTM fails to deliver the competitive performance he expects. While the idea is reportedly being explored, nothing is finalized yet, and KTM still has the chance to prove itself and retain the rising star.
Acosta’s Possible Destination
If Acosta makes the jump to Ducati, he is expected to land at Valentino Rossi’s Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, which has now taken over as Ducati’s primary satellite squad following Pramac’s move to Yamaha.
Speculation about Acosta’s move to VR46 first surfaced in January after he was spotted at Rossi’s Ranch for the 100km of Champions event.
As it stands, VR46 has Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli signed for the 2025 MotoGP season. Di Giannantonio rides a factory-spec Ducati GP25 and has a contract with Ducati through 2026, while Morbidelli, currently on a GP24, has a deal that expires at the end of 2025 potentially creating an opening for Acosta.
Acosta’s Loyalty to KTM
Despite the swirling rumors, Acosta remains committed to KTM provided they meet his performance expectations in 2025.
His manager, Albert Valera, told AS: “We hope that KTM performs well and that we can stay for many years. It all depends on KTM. Pedro is dedicated to the brand, and his goal is to win world championships with them.”
Although Acosta is under a multi-year contract with KTM, an early exit remains a possibility if the situation calls for it.
With most riders locked into contracts through 2026, the upcoming rider market is expected to be quieter than in 2024. However, should Acosta decide to leave KTM, he could trigger a major shake-up in the MotoGP paddock.
