Ducati: Davide Tardozzi Is Already Eyeing Pecco Bagnaia’s Successor

The Aragon weekend confirmed Ducati’s strength and reignited Marc Marquez’s world championship ambitions. The Spanish rider won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, securing a decisive one-two finish that allowed him to further close the gap on Jorge Martin, the World Championship leader riding an Aprilia. The gap between the two is now just 19 points. The good news for the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer, however, isn’t limited to the performance of its top rider. Pedro Acosta also made it onto the podium at the Aragon GP, delivering a strong race on his KTM despite the technical difficulties he encountered over the weekend.

The second-place finish is further confirmation of the young Spaniard’s talent; he has long been considered one of the most promising riders on the entire grid. Acosta, however, is still searching for his first victory in a MotoGP Sunday race. After 55 Grand Prix races in the premier class, he has 14 podium finishes to his credit, including eight second-place finishes. His only victory to date came in the Sprint race held in Thailand in early 2026.

That drought, however, could soon come to an end. Starting in 2027, Acosta will in fact be a factory Ducati rider, teaming up with none other than Marc Marquez. His performance at Aragon has thus taken on even greater significance for Borgo Panigale, confirming the qualities of the rider who will join the factory team next season. Davide Tardozzi emphasized this point. The Ducati Team Manager, interviewed by AS following the Spanish Grand Prix, openly praised Acosta, also focusing on the prospects related to his arrival on the factory team: “Acosta has proven once again today that we have a very promising future with him. Pedro isn’t a gamble—he’s a sure thing,” Tardozzi stated.