A few months ago, I stated that Pedro Acosta could overshadow Marc Marquez in 2027. At the time, many of you disagreed with this assertion, but after what we've just seen, it seems clear that it will be difficult to ignore this theory. The Spanish prodigy's status has now changed.
An exhilarating victory
Even though Acosta has his share of detractors – which I've never understood, to be honest – he undeniably appears as one of the best riders in the world, second only to Marc Marquez this season. In Austria, on KTM's home turf, the brand where he grew up, he shone brightly for three days and could clearly have taken the double victory if it weren't for a crash a few laps from the end of the Sprint, while in the lead.
After that, I saw, here and there, a lot of mockery and derogatory commentsBut that ignores Grand Prix history: it happened on the last lap of the Sprint in Catalonia to Pecco Bagnaia (three-time world champion), in 2024 it was Alex Marquez's specialty in Moto2 (two-time world champion and runner-up) MotoGP), or even Jorge Martin, Mandalika 2023 if I'm not mistaken (2024 world champion). Marc Marquez, in one of his best seasons, in 2025, crashed like that in Austin on Sunday. Stoner has even crashed on the warm-up lap. So, this kind of mistake doesn't only happen to Pedro Acosta; he's not the first to make a mistake while in the lead, and he won't be the last. That doesn't mean he's bad, or that he can't win: the proof is, the next day, His performance left no room for interpretation.
He dominated from start to finish. In control, effortless overtaking, and far superior on acceleration. I get the impression he never pushed himself, not even behind Saturday's winner, Jorge Martin, who was a formidable competitor. Acosta's victory was entirely deserved , that's the word for it.
Everyone was happy for him, because he deserved it. After so many years of struggling on a bike that was obviously less powerful than the Ducatis or Aprilias, he was seen as the unfortunate outsider, a bit like... Fabio Quartararo In a sense. Except that he never mentally abandoned his mission, and, by mid-2025, clearly stated that he needed to talk less and move fasterIt's done. Okay, the KTM was quite fast at Spielberg, as evidenced by Brad Binder's sixth-place finish – a rider who's been practically invisible for the last three years. But still, he dug deep, overcame his demons from the previous day, and secured his first Sunday victory in MotoGP, after 15 podium finishes, which was a record.
I'm very happy with the outcome of the Grand Prix, and, humbly, it confirms my analysis of it. Now, what can we expect in 2027?
Marc Marquez, already worried about 2027?
Several scenarios are possible for 2027, and some are more appealing than others for Marc Marquez, his future teammate. Unfortunately, the one where Pedro Acosta forces him into retirement after a painful period of dominance seems increasingly likely to me. It's not necessarily the one I want, but I can't rule it out. Let me explain.
First, Acosta is one of the strongest riders in the championship, even though he's on the KTM, which, in my opinion, is the third best bike on the grid, tied with the Honda. Everyone agrees that he should logically improve next year, if and only if Ducati takes on the 850cc challenge – personally, I believe they will. We know what he's capable of: he's strong in all aspects of racing, has good pace, overtakes well, and is intelligent on the bike. He doesn't really have any weaknesses, in truth.
Alongside him, there's Marc Marquez, arguably the greatest rider of all time… but getting older. Even in 2026, you can sense that his commitment on the bike isn't the same. When he's on "his" tracks, it's fine; you get the impression of seeing the great Marquez . But on other tracks, where he can't afford to crash, it's much more complicated. Look at Mugello, Assen, or Silverstone. And in 2027, the year he turns 34, this caution could become even more pronounced.
It's sad to say, but it's the harsh reality of life: Marc Marquez's best years are behind him, that's just the way it is. I'm not saying he can't win races again, or even compete for a championship, because his talent on the bike is far superior to that of his rivals. But, facing a hungry young gun like Pedro Acosta, this final challenge could prove extremely difficult, especially if number 93 is pushed to his physical limits.
Moreover, a statement from Marquez himself worries me: after Acosta's victory, he said that his young compatriot embodied "the present and the future of MotoGP" . That says it all.
What did you think of Pedro Acosta's weekend, and more importantly, do you think he can seriously challenge Marc Marquez in 2027? Let me know in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial staff.
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
