Quartararo and Acosta breaking free from frustration, but for 2027 you also need to take a gamble

In 2026 Quartararo and Acosta will definitely be major players in the rider market: both want to win, they don’t want to be spectators.

There’s no doubt that Fabio Quartararo and Pedro Acosta are among the most talented riders on the MotoGP grid and that neither has been put in a position to consistently fight for victories. It would certainly be interesting to see them capable of starring every race weekend. The Frenchman was already world champion in 2021 and runner-up in 2022, we know what he can do; the Spaniard is only in his second year in the class but has already shown his potential and would need the right machinery.

Quartararo’s patience is now at its limit; that’s no secret. He expected more from Yamaha over the course of 2025 and, so far, even the V4 project hasn’t convinced him. He has often expressed disappointment and frustration with his situation, and that certainly hasn’t pleased the Iwata manufacturer, which offered him a rich contract to renew and perhaps expected him to be more of a “team player” in tough times. It’s understandable that the Frenchman isn’t happy, but neither is Yamaha, which is nonetheless striving to the utmost to return to winning ways in MotoGP. The many changes made, with heavy investments across multiple areas, show that the will to return to the top is there.

One might also ask whether Quartararo is the right rider to lead the M1’s development. His riding talent is unquestionable, but that doesn’t necessarily make him a good “test rider.” Clearly, these are things well understood inside a Yamaha garage where he will also be in 2026. The Frenchman can’t wait to try the new bike in the pre-season tests at Sepang and Buriram; that will be a very important moment for early assessments about the future. If he doesn’t see the hoped-for progress, he could decide to speed up talks with other teams with a view to 2027.

Quartararo has also said he’s ready to consider the possibility of racing for a satellite team, as Marc Marquez did when he left Honda to jump on Gresini’s Ducati. Honda, which might try to bring Marquez back, could also make an offer to the rider from Nice. It can’t be ruled out that Aprilia might come knocking again, having considered him before he signed the renewal with Yamaha. That said, the Noale manufacturer’s priority is to renew with Marco Bezzecchi and will probably wait a few GPs before making a decision on Jorge Martin. In any case, FQ20 won’t lack good options for 2027: everyone knows his worth.

Another rider who expressed disappointment multiple times in 2025 and who will be among the market movers in 2026 is Acosta. Compared to Quartararo, who arrived in 2019, he was in his second year in MotoGP and therefore had fewer disappointments behind him. Moreover, in the second part of the season KTM gave him the chance to be consistently in the top 5 and to finish fourth in the overall standings. But the two-time world champion isn’t satisfied and doesn’t want to wait; he aimed to win already last season and did not hide his discontent at not having an RC16 up to par. Among other things, he still hasn’t managed to triumph in a premier-class race, which has inevitably generated some frustration in him.

Over the year he improved, becoming more mature in managing the situation both in the box and on track. When he realized he shouldn’t expect to fight for the win and had to simply get the most out of the technical package available, he took a mental step forward. He managed to be more consistent, limiting crashes and confirming his value.

Pit Beirer stated that KTM will do everything to convince him to stay, but it must be said there are many doubts about the Mattighofen manufacturer’s MotoGP future. Despite Beirer himself and CEO Neumeister continuing to reiterate that the brand will remain on the grid in 2027 as well, the new owner Bajaj has yet to speak clearly on the matter. There is talk of investors who could come into the project, but we have to wait. Acosta doesn’t have much patience and over the course of 2026 will evaluate the options at his disposal. Ducati and Honda are two marques that will certainly consider him; he too will have no trouble finding a solid seat.

2027 will be a year of changes in MotoGP and not just due to rider market issues. There will be a new technical regulation and a new tire supplier (Pirelli). Today it’s impossible to say who will show up with the best project; the pecking order on track could be a bit different from what we’ve seen in recent times. Every rider will find themselves making a bet—there can be no certainties. Betting on Ducati and Aprilia may seem like the easiest choice, looking at the current situation, but changes as significant as those MotoGP will face could also produce surprises.

Quartararo and Acosta will make their evaluations together with their respective management and then decide, hoping to make the right bet. We hope to see both fighting for the very top positions, because they are two of the most talented riders in the Championship and it would be great to see them in the right technical conditions to express all their value.

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