Marquez to KTM.
Alex Marquez signs multi-year deal with KTM factory team for 2027 MotoGP season, signaling major grid shift.
Key Points
Pit Beirer said, 'We are extremely proud and happy to have secured an exceptional talent like Alex Marquez — the 2025 World Championship runner-up — for our project,' underscoring KTM's strong confidence in the signing.
Marquez's track record at recent grands prix is highlighted by three Grand Prix victories at Jerez, Catalunya, and Malaysia and a surge to runner-up in the standings, illustrating the calibre KTM is adding to its line-up.
Fabio Di Giannantonio is widely tipped to be KTM's 2027 teammate, with reports he will leave VR46 to join KTM as part of the shake-up.
The move is part of a broader paddock reshuffle, with Pedro Acosta reportedly moving to Ducati and Brad Binder's KTM tenure ending, signaling a substantial retooling of KTM's competitive package for 2027.
Alex Marquez will race for the Red Bull KTM Factory team from the 2027 MotoGP season, ending a four-year stint at Gresini Racing. The 30-year-old Spaniard returns to factory status for the first time since his 2020 debut with Repsol Honda, according to Autosport.
The signing comes after Marquez finished runner-up in the 2025 championship — his best-ever MotoGP result. KTM sporting director Pit Beirer called it a statement move, saying: 'We are extremely proud and happy to have secured an exceptional talent like Alex Marquez for our project.'
Marquez's Breakthrough Season Sealed the Deal
Marquez's 2025 form made him impossible to ignore. He took three Grand Prix wins — at Jerez, Catalunya, and Malaysia — and surged to second in the overall standings. Those results turned him from a respectable midfield contender into one of MotoGP's most in-demand riders, according to MCNews.
The signing marks the end of Marquez's time at Gresini, where he rebuilt his career after years in Honda's shadow. Head Topics noted it is his first factory contract in seven years — a remarkable turnaround for a rider once written off by the top teams.
Pedro Acosta Exits KTM, Headed for Ducati
Marquez effectively takes the seat left by Pedro Acosta, who is widely reported to be leaving KTM for Ducati. The departure of Acosta — KTM's star young talent — forced the team to move fast in the rider market, according to Auto Hebdo F1.
Brad Binder's time at KTM is also ending, per MCNews. Together, the two exits mark a near-total reset of KTM's factory line-up going into 2027. The team is betting on Marquez's experience and winning mentality to fill that gap.
Di Giannantonio Tipped as Marquez's 2027 Teammate
KTM has not yet named Marquez's factory teammate for 2027. However, Fabio Di Giannantonio is widely tipped to fill the second seat. Reports say the Italian is set to leave VR46 Racing to join KTM as part of the broader paddock shake-up, according to Devdiscourse.
If confirmed, the pairing of Marquez and Di Giannantonio would give KTM a young, aggressive line-up with race-winning pedigree. The team is yet to make an official announcement on the second seat.
KTM Makes a Bold Title Bid for 2027
KTM is framing the Marquez signing as a direct challenge to Ducati's grid dominance. Autosport described the deal as part of a seismic reshaping of MotoGP's grid heading into 2027. The Austrian manufacturer wants to develop its RC16 machine alongside a proven race winner.
For Marquez, the move is a chance to finally compete for a world title on factory machinery. He has now gone from a rider without a top-tier ride to the centerpiece of KTM's championship ambitions — all within the span of a single season.
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