Following Ducati's announcement on Wednesday that they were signing Pedro Acosta to replace Francesco Bagnaia in the factory lineup, current world champion Marc Marquez and his new teammate for 2027, Acosta, have made their first statements regarding their partnership. Marquez said that taking Acosta from KTM was a good choice for Ducati, while Acosta described being in the same garage with a nine-time world champion as a learning opportunity.<\/p>\n
Marquez assessed Acosta with these words: \u201cPedro was one of the best riders on the market, so he was among the best options for any team. He\u2019s a fast, young and energetic rider; so he\u2019ll be very fast from the start.\u201d However, Marquez also emphasized that he didn\u2019t want to delve deeper into the subject out of respect for his current teammate Bagnaia. When asked about a comparison between Acosta and a younger version of himself, he simply said, \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about that in the winter.\u201d.<\/p>\n
Acosta, the 22-year-old Spanish rider who moved up to MotoGP in the 2024 season and secured his first sprint victory at the Thailand season opener in March 2026, has accumulated more points than any other rider on the team in his final seasons with KTM. However, KTM's inability to challenge the dominance of Aprilia and Ducati has prevented Acosta from fully showcasing his potential.<\/p>\n
Acosta described racing in the same garage as Marquez not as a rivalry, but as a platform for gaining experience: \u201cIt\u2019s a great honor for me to share things with Marc. He\u2019s nearing the end of his career, while I\u2019m at the beginning of mine in MotoGP. He raced alongside great riders like Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and Valentino Rossi in his early years. The experience he carries from that period is invaluable, and perhaps it can connect me with that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Acosta also made it clear that there was no rivalry between the two yet: \u201cOur relationship is natural and professional; we don\u2019t have an obligation to eat together or hug. There\u2019s no rivalry without fighting for the championship; just being in the same garage doesn\u2019t create rivalry. There\u2019s no rivalry at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
MotoGP will switch to new technical regulations from 2027, reducing engine displacement from 1000cc to 850cc. This change is expected to reshape the performance hierarchy and give Acosta a more level playing field with Marquez in the Ducati garage.<\/p>\n