Ducati officially announced on Wednesday, June 24, that they have signed Pedro Acosta to a two-year contract covering the 2027-2028 seasons. Acosta, who races for the KTM factory team, will join Marc Marquez in the Ducati Lenovo Team roster starting next season. The announcement came approximately two hours after Francesco Bagnaia's departure from the team was announced on the same day. Marquez's contract renewal with Ducati was officially confirmed the day before, on Tuesday.
Concorde Agreement delayed transfers.
Negotiations for the Concorde deal between the motorcycle manufacturers and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group were not finalized by last Friday. This delay led to the postponement of transfer news for several riders, including Acosta, until today. Under the terms of the contract, Acosta will not receive the highest salary on the grid; however, in keeping with Ducati tradition, he will earn substantial bonuses tied to victories and championship achievements.
Statements from Domenicali and Dall Igna
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said the following about Acosta: Pedro is undoubtedly one of the most talented riders in the MotoGP paddock. He's only 22 years old, and with him, we can usher in a brand new, exciting era. Alongside Marc, he will be the ideal complement for our team, which aims to remain at the top in the future. Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall Igna emphasized that Acosta has shown an extraordinary rate of maturity and stated that the young rider will make a significant contribution to the Desmosedici GP development project.
Acosta's career and KTM journey
He turned 22 last month and Shark Known by his nickname, Acosta quickly completed his career in the lower categories: the Spanish rider, who won the 2020 Red Bull Rookies Cup, achieved the Moto3 championship in his rookie season and the Moto2 championship a year later. Making his MotoGP debut in 2024 with GasGas Tech3, Acosta secured five podiums that season, finishing sixth in the championship. In 2025, he was upgraded to the KTM factory team and again achieved five top-three finishes; in 2026, he has so far secured three podiums. However, the rider has yet to achieve his first MotoGP victory. It was also known that Acosta sought an early Ducati switch via the VR46 team during KTM's financial difficulties in 2025 and the RC16's performance limitations; however, this attempt was unsuccessful. Acosta currently sits fourth in the 2026 championship standings.