The 22-year-old Acosta, considered one of MotoGP\u2019s top talents, will team up with seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez in what could be one of the sport\u2019s strongest rider line-ups. Marquez recently renewed his contract with Ducati until 2028.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Acosta joins Ducati after a quick ascent through the ranks. He won the Moto3 and Moto2 world titles within three years of his championship debut and made an immediate impression in MotoGP. He earned Rookie of the Year honours in 2024 and finished fourth overall with KTM in 2025, achieving 13 podium finishes. He is currently sixth in the championship standings, 48 points behind leader Marco Bezzecchi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This announcement also marks the end of an impressive eight-year partnership between Ducati and Bagnaia. Since he joined the team as a rookie in 2019, the Italian has become Ducati\u2019s most successful rider. He has tallied 31 wins, 62 podiums, and 28 pole positions. He brought Ducati's first riders\u2019 championship in 15 years by winning the MotoGP title in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bagnaia's last race for Ducati will be at the Valencia Grand Prix from November 27 to 29. Reflecting on his departure, Bagnaia shared on Instagram, \u201cWe have grown together. We\u2019ve faced every kind of situation without ever giving up, always encouraging each other to do our best. I feel the need to start fresh with a new challenge, but I\u2019ll never forget what we\u2019ve accomplished together. You\u2019re part of me, and you always will be.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Affectionately known as \u201cPecco\u201d, Bagnaia has faced challenges since Marquez joined Ducati\u2019s factory team in 2025. While Marquez secured a seventh world title last season, Bagnaia fell to fifth in the standings, finishing 257 points behind his teammate, despite previously carrying Ducati\u2019s title hopes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bagnaia's last race for Ducati will be at the Valencia Grand Prix from November 27 to 29. Reflecting on his departure, Bagnaia shared on Instagram, \u201cWe have grown together. We\u2019ve faced every kind of situation without ever giving up, always encouraging each other to do our best. I feel the need to start fresh with a new challenge, but I\u2019ll never forget what we\u2019ve accomplished together. You\u2019re part of me, and you always will be.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bagnaia heads into this weekend\u2019s Dutch Grand Prix feeling more confident after winning his first race of the season in the Czech Grand Prix sprint. However, he narrowly missed a clean sweep after being overtaken late in Sunday\u2019s race by Marquez and pole-sitter Ai Ogura, ultimately finishing third despite leading for several laps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n