Marc Márquez’s unexpected predictions have sparked quite a reaction after he surprisingly left both himself and Pedro Acosta off the Ducati lineup for the 2027 MotoGP season. With most rider contracts expiring at the end of this year, the 2027 rider market is already shaping up to include some major shifts.
Ahead of the Sepang pre-season test, news broke that Fabio Quartararo signed with Honda, while Yamaha’s Jorge Martin is expected to take his place. Pedro Acosta is also believed to have inked a deal with Ducati, joining Marc Márquez on the factory team. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia has been strongly linked to a move to Aprilia, and Alex Márquez is the favorite contender to fill Acosta’s spot at the factory KTM team.
Ducati has expressed their priority to renew Marc Márquez’s contract before making further decisions but admitted challenges remain in finalizing the deal. Although it’s widely anticipated Marquez and Ducati will reach an agreement, the seven-time champion stirred controversy by predicting the 2027 grid in a video posted on MotoGP’s official website.
In the video, Marquez initially included his brother Alex alongside Pedro Acosta in the Ducati factory squad but later replaced Acosta with Bagnaia, declaring, “This is going to be a good team.” Acosta was then paired with Martin at Honda, while Marquez left himself out of the projected lineup. When asked if he was retiring, Marquez coyly replied, “Maybe, I don’t know.”
Though meant in jest, Marquez’s choices send a subtle message about Ducati’s future team composition. He has praised Bagnaia’s performance with Ducati and indicated he doesn’t rule out Acosta becoming his teammate, but the inclusion of his brother Alex—who finished second in last year’s standings—makes sense. However, if current reports hold true, Ducati could lose both Bagnaia and Alex Márquez in 2027.
Fan Take: This shake-up is a bold indicator of how the MotoGP landscape could dramatically change by 2027, with top riders potentially switching teams and brands. For racing fans, it means fresh rivalries and new dynamics on the grid, which keeps the championship unpredictable and thrilling.
