Pedro Acosta makes candid admission ahead of factory Ducati switch

Pulse Sports Team 09:29 - 27 October 2026

Pedro Acosta has surprisingly admitted that he would not have performed well on a Ducati in MotoGP in 2026 had he made the switch to VR46, citing the frustration accumulated during his difficult spell at KTM.

Now a premier-class race winner, Acosta is set to join the factory Ducati squad next season alongside Marc Marquez in what stands as one of the blockbuster moves of the 2027 rider market.

However, the Spaniard had the opportunity to jump on Ducati machinery as early as this year after holding talks over a potential switch to VR46 during a rocky 2025 campaign with KTM. Ultimately, he opted to see out the final year of his contract with his current team, securing his maiden victory in Austria earlier this season.

Acosta is widely tipped to be a world title contender in 2027 and pose the stiffest challenge yet to Marquez. Even so, the young star admits he would not have been ready to go toe-to-toe with Marquez on equal machinery this year.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS, Acosta explained: "Things turned out this way. Maybe I would have jumped on the bike, but with all the accumulated tension and frustration, I wouldn't have done well. This opportunity came along when I was truly ready, especially after putting those difficult moments from last year behind me."

"I started delivering results, riding at a high level, and making the difference compared to the other riders on my bike. I think that was when I realized I was ready to take on such a challenge," Acosta added.

Acosta views the next two years as a pivotal turning point in his career and a prime opportunity to learn from Marquez before the multi-time world champion hangs up his leathers.

"This is the last chance – or one of the last – for a young rider to learn from him before he calls time on his career. My main objective will be to understand how the team operates and their methodology. After six seasons with KTM, I know every detail of how things work there, but I have no idea how the new team runs. First, I'll need to adapt, and then gradually absorb as much as possible from Marc," the Spaniard stated.