Pedro Acosta did not leave KTM for a bigger paycheck. The young Spaniard chose to join Ducati for MotoGP 2027 with a singular mission: to beat Marc Marquez on the same bike. KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister revealed that he personally tried to convince Acosta to stay at Mattighofen, but the rider's desire for a fair fight outweighed any financial offer.
Acosta's departure is a massive blow for KTM, who had nurtured him from the lower classes and made him the centerpiece of their MotoGP project. Yet Neumeister understood that this was about something greater than money. “I am really very sorry and I tried to keep him. It is not a secret that I tried personally to convince him to stay, but it was very tough,” Neumeister said.
What gave Neumeister goosebumps was Acosta's reasoning. “He told me, ‘please, Gottfried, it is not about a million more or less’. We have seen riders who are sitting on the base package at the beginning of the season, and just signing with other guys for money. This, for me, is not racing spirit,” he added. Acosta even said in Spanish, “even if you have a better bike with the 850cc and I am winning on this one, I want to beat Marc with the same weapon.”
That statement underscores Acosta's ambition. He doesn't just want to be a highly paid rider; he wants to prove he's the best by defeating Marc Marquez on equal terms. Marquez has long been renowned for outperforming his machinery. Now, Acosta wants to flip the narrative: he wants to be on the same bike as Marquez and come out on top.
Marquez, however, doesn't share the same desire. The nine-time world champion believes his career is at a different stage. “No, it's not my battle right now. I'm already in another position in my career,” Marquez said briefly. This indicates that Marquez isn't focusing on a potential rivalry with Acosta, at least for now.
Acosta's move to Ducati also means he will replace three-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia in the factory team. The Acosta-Marquez lineup in 2027 is expected to be one of the most formidable on the grid. Ducati, already dominant in recent seasons, further strengthens its hand by signing a young talent hungry for success.
Despite losing Acosta, Neumeister left the door open for a future reunion. “I have always said you always meet twice in life and he is really doing the best for the team,” he concluded. KTM must now find a replacement capable of filling the void left by Acosta, while Acosta himself prepares for a new chapter with Ducati.
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