Pedro Acosta’s MotoGP future: Stay at KTM, go to Ducati… or Pramac?

Since final November, Pedro Acosta’s MotoGP future has been the key speaking level. By way of KTM’s preliminary uncertainty over the Christmas interval relating to its survival because it navigated its approach by way of a serious monetary disaster, Acosta was already being linked to a transfer elsewhere in 2026.

And whereas KTM has managed to safe its survival by way of restructuring, it has made such a lacklustre begin to 2025 that Pedro Acosta remaining on the Austrian model in 2026 seems much more unsure regardless of having a multi-year contract along with his signature on it.

It has been a query he has fielded repeatedly in current months and has frequently batted it away. On the Americas Grand Prix final weekend, he stated: “I got here to KTM with a transparent dream and the dream remains to be there.”

Acosta owes rather a lot to KTM. When his deal to come back to Moto3 in 2021 with Prustel GP fell by way of, he discovered a haven on the Ajo KTM squad. He went on to win his first world title in his rookie season, earlier than stepping as much as Moto2 with Ajo and KTM, the place he was champion once more in 2023. Bringing him as much as MotoGP inside the primary three years of his grand prix profession, Acosta gained’t readily throw the model below the bus.

However after three rounds in 2025, he at present sits thirteenth within the standings having scored simply 16 factors. On the identical stage of 2024, his rookie season, he was fourth within the factors on 54 having made two grand prix podium visits on the RC16.

The closest a KTM has been to profitable a grand prix this 12 months up to now was Enea Bastianini at COTA, who was 12.238s adrift in seventh. At no level but has KTM breached the ten seconds or much less deficit on the chequered flag.

Whereas the velocity of the 2025 RC16 is stable, it seems to not maintain its tyres for very lengthy over a race distance, whereas Acosta complained at COTA of vibration points. Whereas most appeared to have gotten on high of this difficulty that started with Michelin introducing its grippier rear tyre in the beginning of final 12 months, KTM continues to chase its tail.

For all of his defending of KTM, 20-year-old Acosta’s persistence will quickly begin to fade and he’ll start to marvel if his abilities are being wasted. Certainly, supervisor Albert Valera will definitely be considering the latter as rumours proceed to swirl.

Two issues come up, although. The primary is the restricted choices on the 2026 grid, ought to Acosta elect to stop KTM. VR46 has a emptiness at present for subsequent 12 months, as does Honda at each its manufacturing facility squad and LCR, and Pramac. Each different seat is full of riders on contracts at the very least to the tip of 2026, although we have now seen previously that that is by no means a assure of stability.

However the second – and arguably greatest – downside is whether or not or not Acosta might depart KTM. The Austrian model weaves notoriously thick, web-like contracts with riders that give all of it the ability. If it desires to face in a rider’s approach, it’ll. KTM has a variety of love and respect for Acosta and every little thing he has achieved for the model. However because it faces nonetheless an unsure future, would it not actually be keen to let arguably probably the most proficient rider it has had on its books stroll away so simply? That appears exhausting to think about.

The new hearsay

VR46 Racing Group – Ducati

That is the hearsay that refuses to die and was seemingly sparked when Acosta took half in Valentino Rossi’s 100Km of Champions occasion in Tavullia in January.

In March when broaching the topic, VR46 workforce boss Pablo Nieto stated: “We wish to proceed with him [Franco Morbidelli]. Clearly, we predict he has unbelievable potential. However clearly Acosta is a rider who’s appreciated, after all. He is a really, very fascinating rider, however now just isn’t the time to speak about it.”

VR46 has a spot for 2026, with Franco Morbidelli not contracted past 2025. Morbidelli is liked within the VR46 organisation and has achieved a great job up to now on the GP24 in 2025, reaching the rostrum on the Argentina GP. If he continues to be an everyday podium contender, VR46 may have a tough time kicking him to the kerb.

The workforce can also be factory-supported by Ducati on Fabio Di Giannantonio’s facet of the storage. That deal is unique to him and lasts till the tip of 2026. It’s not inconceivable that Ducati might develop its efforts to area a fourth GP25 for Acosta subsequent 12 months if he does come to VR46. Ducati could be silly to not at the very least attempt to have a hand in facilitating this transfer if it will probably; having Marc Marquez and Acosta on its equipment on the identical time could be a dream state of affairs for a producer.

From Valentino Rossi’s perspective, Acosta is seen – in keeping with Gazzetta dello Sport – because the ‘anti-Marquez’. Rossi would certainly take pleasure in destabilising the Ducati eco-system that’s shortly being established round Marquez by placing one of many few riders on the grid who might doubtless persistently go toe-to-toe with the eight-time world champion on one in all his bikes.

Nonetheless, with assets being shifted to the 2027 bikes, Ducati might merely not have the capability to construct all new elements for a fourth manufacturing facility bike. With the freeze in engine improvement in drive now for Ducati, Acosta would doubtless be going to VR46 on a two-year-old bike – one thing he might do effectively on, however most likely to not the extent he would need.

The monetary facet can also be one other sticking level. Even with none respectable outcomes proper now, Acosta would nonetheless come at a excessive price ticket. Positive, he’d be keen to go away one thing on the desk to easily have aggressive equipment – as Marquez did in 2024 with Gresini – however he might most likely earn extra and get a full manufacturing facility contract elsewhere.

The unlikely route

Pramac Racing – Yamaha

The Pramac workforce has a experience free at present for 2026 after solely signing Jack Miller to a one-year deal. And over the COTA weekend, rumours have been stirring that maybe the Paolo Campinoti-owned outfit might throw its hat within the ring to accumulate Acosta.

Pramac is now a completely factory-supported Yamaha workforce and has the credence of being a world championship-winning outfit, after it helped Jorge Martin to the 2024 crown when it ran Ducati equipment.

Spanish broadcaster DAZN caught an intriguing back-and-forth between Acosta and Campinoti in the course of the COTA weekend that means he’s casting his web out to attempt to tempt the younger Spaniard.

Campinoti is heard within the paddock whereas hugging Acosta saying: “You already know that, don’t you?”, to which Acosta replies: “Sure, sure. I do know,” which is adopted by Campinoti including: “Crucial factor is that…”

At this level, Acosta cuts him off and says: “You discuss to Valera.”

Snippets missing in full context, it hasn’t stopped tongues from wagging within the paddock. However a transfer to Pramac appears far-fetched. Yamaha at present is final within the producers’ standings, although Pramac’s Jack Miller has present some promise for the bike after ending the Americas GP in fifth.

Whereas Yamaha isn’t constrained by the identical improvement restrictions as Ducati, KTM and Aprilia at present are, can it actually take the step to profitable races repeatedly earlier than 2027? That appears unlikely, given what we’ve seen up to now.

Acosta talking to Campinoti is one factor, however Yamaha would doubtless be the place the true discussions occur. It’s price noting that in 2019, Ducati considerably held Pramac and Miller to ransom because the marque talked with Jorge Lorenzo about bringing him again into its fold on the satellite tv for pc workforce rather than the Australian for 2020. It was solely when Lorenzo rejected this that Miller was in a position to pen a brand new Pramac deal. So, whereas Campinoti’s method to Acosta is fascinating, it comes throughout as somebody attempting to seem a much bigger participant than they really are.

Yamaha additionally burned a variety of finances on signing Fabio Quartararo to a brand new two-year deal that it’s unlikely to have the ability to get anyplace close to to accumulate Acosta’s companies.

The probably choice

Honda

Of all of the choices, a transfer to the manufacturing facility Honda workforce looks like it might be probably the most logical. Whereas rumours about this haven’t been as loud, Honda has made a significantly better begin to the 2025 season than anticipated to the purpose the place it may very well be contending for podiums by the second half of the 12 months.

Rapidly, driving a Honda looks like a sexy prospect. Its high rider within the standings in the mean time is LCR’s Johann Zarco in seventh, who bettered Honda’s finest outcome from the whole thing of 2024 on the opening spherical of 2025. He then exceeded that in Argentina at spherical two having certified on the entrance row.

At this stage, the Honda seems just like the extra aggressive bike than the KTM. And it’s only going to get higher because the influence of latest technical director Romano Albesiano is felt within the coming months. Free to proceed creating its package deal into 2026, Honda is quick positioning itself to be the producer to guess on when the 2027 guidelines reset comes round.

It has two contracts up for renewal on the finish of the 12 months: Zarco’s at LCR, and Luca Marini’s on the manufacturing facility workforce.

On benefit, Zarco must be given Marini’s seat with out query. He was Honda’s main gentle in a depressing 2024 and has actually emerged because the undertaking’s spearhead. However Zarco is 34 and his profession will probably be winding down within the subsequent few years. Acosta immediately turns into the higher guess from this standpoint alone, by no means thoughts the truth that he’s simply the extra proficient rider.

Honda actually was damage by its golden boy Marc Marquez quitting it to attempt to rebuild his profession. Snaring Acosta would go a protracted option to filling the void the six-time MotoGP champion left on the Japanese marque.

Acosta’s driving model ought to match to the Honda fairly effectively, whereas Honda would be capable of compensate him handsomely as one in all its manufacturing facility riders. Besides, Honda hasn’t actually been in a position to tempt a correct triple A prospect into its ranks since Marquez; Ai Ogura repeatedly rebuffed a MotoGP transfer with HRC.

Luca Marini has achieved a great job in 2025, so kicking him to the kerb could be powerful. However MotoGP is a enterprise and Honda can’t afford to let a chance to signal Acosta slip by way of its grasp.

Why remaining at KTM in 2026 can also be a viable choice for Pedro Acosta

Whereas what we’ve written already about KTM and the way in which it constructions its contracts is legitimate, there’s something else to contemplate: Pedro Acosta is wise sufficient to play the lengthy sport.

Acosta is aware of simply how good a rider he’s and he is aware of that each producer will probably be falling over themselves in 2026 attempting to signal him for 2027 when most present manufacturing facility offers are up for renewal.

With such a radical shift in laws coming for 2027, and the very fact he’s not precisely operating out of years, Acosta has time to really examine the shifting panorama and make an knowledgeable resolution for his profession.

Biding his time additionally means key manufacturing facility seats at Ducati and Aprilia come in the marketplace. Ducati’s 2027 line-up will probably be an fascinating one given the expertise it has on its books already, the very fact it’ll doubtless should pay way more for Marc Marquez’s contract ought to he proceed with it past 2026, and the variety of free brokers it might look to snare.

Based mostly on present type, staying on the KTM one other years doesn’t seem to be one thing anybody would go for. But when the model can get on high of the vibration points and its tyre put on troubles, it has a motorcycle Acosta is greater than able to profitable races on.

So, whereas there are good choices on the desk for 2026 already, staying the place he’s additionally isn’t essentially a nasty factor…