For MotoGP fans, especially those closely following the latest developments in the sport, the transfer rumors for the 2026 season have been making waves recently. Speculations range from Enea Bastianini 23 potentially returning to Gresini, to Alex Marquez 73 being considered as a replacement for Pecco Bagnaia 63 at Ducati Corse.

However, the most intriguing news comes from KTM Factory rider Pedro Acosta 37. The Baby Shark has been rumored to have a chance of joining Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team and riding the Ducati Desmosedici. While whispers of Acosta moving to VR46 first emerged in January, the rumors had quieted down—only to resurface recently.

Acosta himself did not shy away when asked about the possibility of his transfer: "Gigi (Gigi Dall'Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse) is always one step ahead of the rest. That’s clear. Looking at the development of this championship, he has been behind many of the innovations we all use today, like various devices and other things we don’t even know about yet. Personally, I would love to ride that bike. Maybe someday," Acosta told Spanish sports media Diario AS.

Unlike Acosta, VR46 boss Uccio Salucci remained coy when asked about the rumors linking the young talent to their team next season. "Acosta is a fantastic rider. He may be the best talent in MotoGP right now. But it’s too early to say anything about that. Honestly, I haven’t had any serious discussions about bringing Acosta to our team," Uccio stated.

Meanwhile, VR46 Team Manager Pablo Nieto offered a more optimistic comment regarding Acosta’s potential move. "Of course, Acosta is a rider we admire. He’s a very interesting talent, but for now, we are still focused on Franco Morbidelli. We want to continue working with Franco," he explained.

Franco Morbidelli 21 is currently the most likely Ducati rider to be replaced by Acosta. The Italian rider spent last season with the championship-winning Pramac Racing team but struggled to match the pace of Jorge Martin 89. At one point, Franco was even at risk of losing his MotoGP seat due to a lack of offers—until Valentino Rossi brought him into the VR46 paddock.

With Morbidelli’s contract only lasting a single season, he will need to deliver consistently strong performances in the upcoming races to secure his place in the VR46 lineup.

Similarly, rumors surrounding Toprak Razgatlıoğlu have also been gaining momentum. The 2024 WSBK champion is reportedly being considered by HRC Honda, the Japanese manufacturer’s factory team. Speculation about Toprak’s potential MotoGP move has been a recurring topic since 2022, but this time, the rumors are stronger due to Luca Marini 10’s contract nearing its end.

In the recent Argentina round, Honda showcased significant progress in catching up with rival V4-engine teams. This positive development could make HRC an attractive destination for Toprak, increasing the likelihood of him joining MotoGP in 2026.

Don’t miss the upcoming MotoGP Americas this weekend! It promises to be an exciting race, especially with reports that Pecco Bagnaia will return to riding the full-spec 2024 Desmosedici GP in his battle against Marc Marquez 93. Meanwhile, in Moto2, Manuel Gonzalez 18 from the IntactGP Dynavolt team is set to deliver another thrilling performance.

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