KTM did the ‘shopping’ at Ducati
If in 2024 by promoting Marc Marquez in the official team Ducati lost Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, two years later the same pattern is repeated. The Borgo Panigale factory not only renewed Marc Marquez’s contract until 2028, but also managed to dress Pedro Acosta in red, the natural heir of the Cervera phenomenon.
As sporting director Mauro Grassilli pointed out, the negotiation that led to Marc Marquez’s renewal was not easy because, unlike what happened in 2024, the nine-time world champion’s financial request increased and not by a little. Pedro Acosta certainly did not think about the wallet, after three absolutely well-paid years at KTM Acosta’s only goal is to have a bike to aim for the title.
Ducati’s concentration of economic efforts on Marc Marquez led to the inevitable exclusion of other riders who rightly decided to go where they would have an official rider status included in the factory team with the consequent economic recognition guaranteed to those who embrace a cause, in this case that of KTM.
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Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez, in fact, have decided to leave Ducati to become official KTM riders from 2027. Team manager Aki Ajo commented on the market moves to the official MotoGP website: “Last summer and this winter were quite intense months for us in the ‘roulette’ of the rider market – Ajo said – we are really excited and very happy with our choices.” KTM is therefore ready to welcome Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez with open arms, both already winners of a GP this season respectively in Barcelona and Jerez.
