– A possible future dream team at Ducati is already causing discussions: Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta side by side. Nothing is official yet, but many signs indicate that Marquez will extend his contract and Acosta will move from KTM to the Ducati factory team in 2027.
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For Livio Suppo, this would not be an explosive mix, but a productive one. “If you look at Pedro’s career, you see that he is one of the very special ones,” says the former team manager at GPOne.com about the KTM rider.
Despite setbacks, Acosta has repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary talent. His start to the 2026 MotoGP season – currently he is third in the world championship – is “absolutely commendable.”
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Suppo also sees a clear development in the 21-year-old Spaniard: After mentally difficult phases, Acosta has now found focus. “He got that thought out of his head and is concentrating on what he has,” he says.
Historical role model: Rossi vs. Lorenzo
For the dynamic between Marquez and Acosta in a top team like Ducati, Suppo draws a prominent comparison: Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha.
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“It’s like back then when Yamaha put Lorenzo next to Valentino.” Although Rossi initially viewed the situation critically, he benefited from it in the long term: “Jorge extended his career. He won two more world championships.”
“A young teammate rejuvenates you”
A similar effect is conceivable for Marquez as well. Suppo is convinced: “Having a young, super-fast rider next to you rejuvenates you.” The internal team competition brings back lost fighting spirit. “It awakens that spirit that you might lose a bit over the years,” he believes.
Therefore, he also sees no reason for tensions: “I don’t see why Marc should be upset about it – quite the opposite.” A duel with Acosta could even help Marquez extend his career at the highest level from Suppo’s point of view.
