KTM braces for rider reshuffle as Pedro Acosta moves to Ducati for 2027

KTM Motorsport director Pit Beirer said the impending departure of Spanish rider Pedro Acosta to Ducati’s factory team for 2027 is “hard to swallow” after years of investment. Acosta, a former Moto3 and Moto2 world champion who has raced for KTM since 2019, will join Marc Marquez at Ducati, leaving the Austrian marque without a win‑less premier‑class rider.

To fill the vacancy left by Acosta and fellow KTM rider Brad Binder, KTM will sign satellite‑Ducati talents Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio for the 2027 season. The new line‑up arrives as MotoGP prepares for sweeping technical changes, including the introduction of 850 cc machines and a switch to Pirelli tyres. Beirer sees the regulation shift as an opportunity to restart the KTM project with a stronger rider package.

At the time of the announcement, Acosta sits seventh in the championship, Di Giannantonio is fifth, while Alex Marquez, returning from injury, is ninth.