Silly season for MotoGP is now underway. After months of rumours and speculations, the dice have started to fall. Ducati Lenovo Team are the first to complete their rider line up for 2027 and it sees a crucial change. Long-term rider Francesco Bagnaia departs, making way for the up and coming star Pedro Acosta.
Marc Márquez Extends
Earlier this week, Ducati announced that Marc Márquez has extended his contract with the team. This will see the champion remain in red in both 2027 and 2028. After concerns over his injuries and speculation over whether he is fit to continue, Márquez has put it all to rest.
After joining the factory team in 2025, the pairing immediately worked. Last year was a true comeback for Márquez, giving him a ninth championship overall and seventh MotoGP championship. Matching Valentino Rossi and continuing to set his own records, the year came to an abrupt end after a crash in Malaysia. Despite being absent from the final rounds to recover, the start of the 2026 season was still a struggle.
However, Márquez has not yielded. Although he’s admitted that his body will force him to retire before his mind, the fight is still in the #93. This year, he has now won three sprint races and two back-to-back feature races. Chasing down Marco Bezzecchi for yet another championship, he has decided on his future. Sticking with Ducati, Márquez will definitely be on the grid for the upcoming years.
“I’m truly happy with this new agreement with the Ducati Lenovo Team and to continue being part of this family. When I decided to join Ducati, I was convinced it was the most competitive project. They believed in me, and we built a relationship based on trust and hard work. With this renewal, they have once again reaffirmed this commitment, respecting my times and giving me the peace of mind I needed to make the right decision.“
~ Marc Márquez.
Bagnaia Departs
At first sight, it is a shock to see that Bagnaia will no longer be red after 2026. Since joining the MotoGP grid in 2019, the Italian rider has riden Ducati-powered bikes. Starting in Prima Pramac, in 2021 he made the jump into the factory team. What followed was a period of dominance and stunning riding. Together, Bagnaia and Ducati achieved back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, and two runner-up spots.
With a solid partnership forming, no one could imagine how it would develop. 2025 saw a clear break in the concrete pairing. With Márquez joining the team, something didn’t click for Bagnaia last year, leaving him trailing behind. Despite two wins and plenty of podiums, a run of five retirements saw the relationship fracture. He finished fifth in the standings, 257 points adrift of his championship-winning teammate.
Whilst it has looked more positive at times in 2026, the struggles have remained. The Bagnaia of old has shown through on a couple of occasions, but a poor start to the year has put him on the back foot. Speculation over his future has been rampant, and now it is official. After six years, Bagnaia departs the Ducati Lenovo Team and will no longer be in red. Whilst it wasn’t immediately announced where he was going, it is now confirmed that he will be partnering Bezzecchi at Aprilia Racing.
A New Challenge For Acosta
Rumours have been around for most of the season regarding Pedro Acosta. It is now official: he is leaving Red Bull KTM Factory Racing to join Ducati Lenovo Team in 2027. For the first time since 2010, Ducati will not have an Italian rider in their line up, opting for an all-Spanish team.
Acosta joined the World Championship in 2021 in Moto3, and within three years he’d won two championships. 2024 saw his MotoGP debut with Red Bull GasGas Tech3 before joining the factory KTM team in 2025. In his maiden year, he achieved Rookie of the Year and five podiums, finishing sixth overall. Another five podiums in 2025 saw him finish fourth last year.
So far in 2026, Acosta has achieved a maiden win in a sprint race. However, a maiden feature race win is still on the horizon. With a total of 13 podiums to his name and he’s only in his third season, Acosta is one of the up and coming stars on the MotoGP grid. After struggling with KTM’s engine reliability, he will face a new challenge in 2027. Not only is it a new team for the young rider, but it’s a new manufacturer.
“Pedro represents the ideal candidate for the future of the Ducati Lenovo Team. After Marc’s confirmation, we wanted to add a young and fast rider to the Desmosedici GP development project. Pedro, in addition to being an undisputed talent, has demonstrated extraordinary precocity. In just under six years in the Championship, he has won two titles in the lower classes and achieved truly convincing performances in MotoGP.“
~ Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse
A Confirmed Line Up For Ducati Lenovo Team
With the halfway point of the 2026 season approaching, Ducati Lenovo Team are now the first to confirm their 2027 line up. Expect to see other riders falling into place now that two big movers have been announced. Speculation has been around all season and Ducati are the team to truly kick off silly season.
The Italian outfit will be hoping to secure Márquez’s legacy and get him a tenth championship. But with young Acosta joining the team, they are also looking towards the future. With new regulations hitting the grid next year, his fresh eyes could help them develop.
Ducati being the first team to finalise their line up has caused Aprilia to do the same. Bagnaia is replacing Jorge Martín at Aprilia Racing and is, like Acosta, facing his first season with a new manufacturer. If they can continue their form they’ve showed this year it won’t be a step back for the former champion, just a progression in his career.
Now, five seats are confirmed on the 2027 grid. Who will be the next piece to fall into place?