Pedro Acosta reveals why he chose Ducati over KTM for MotoGP future

Pedro Acosta will move from KTM to Ducati for the 2027 MotoGP season, and when speaking to Visordown ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, the Spanish star revealed the true reasons behind his switch.

Acosta’s move was confirmed earlier this year, meaning he will join nine-time world champion Marc Marquez at the factory Lenovo Ducati team. The chance to join a seasoned winner in Ducati, as well as taking on Marquez as a team-mate are both exciting prospects for fans, but also for Acosta.

However, the main reason for leaving KTM at the end of this season, which is huge news considering Acosta’s whole career in the world championship has been backed by the Austrian company to this point, is because the 22-year-old has effectively run out of patience with the brand. 

Acosta previously said that he did not have time to wait with regards to becoming a consistent title contender, but given his young age, time is still very much on Acosta’s side. But his decision goes deeper than that, with the former Moto3 and Moto2 world champion telling Visordown: 

“When I said that I’m running out of time, it’s that I already gave [KTM] the chance. Already in three years you give many chances, and honestly, not many things [have] changed. I arrived with a bike that was in development, and I am still with a bike that is in development. 

“I don’t feel like I want to give more opportunities. In three years I could already see what was going on and I think it’s my moment to go to a challenge that is motivating. Normally, and I don’t want this to sound egocentric, let’s say, but from the moment that I jumped in the [MotoGP] class I was mainly the first KTM, even in my rookie year. 

“Because of this, maybe I need a challenge that motivates me even if it can go really wrong, because I am going to [ride alongside] a team-mate, that [has] never had a team-mate beat him. Even if I lose it (the battle with Marc Marquez) it will be a really nice way to learn.”

Acosta was also asked about the difficulties that other KTM riders have had riding the RC16, including Maverick Vinales, in particular. That being said, Acosta has consistently fared better than his fellow KTM colleagues, which means he’s not always felt the same struggles.

Acosta also says that the lack of experience riding another bike means that he is not in the same position as the likes of Vinales, or Enea Bastianini, when it comes to offering feedback compared to what other bikes can do better or worse. Acosta added: 

“It’s difficult to say from my point of view because when I hear what they are talking about, I haven’t felt many things that they are saying are wrong with the bike. It’s quite difficult to talk as well when you have not ridden another bike. Maverick [Vinales] and Enea [Bastianini] have much more experience with other brands and they can feel the difference. But in my case it’s quite difficult to talk.”