Here is a wild shift in the paddock: as Motorsport.com reports, Pedro Acosta has signed Monster Energy as a personal sponsor ahead of his switch to Ducati for the 2027 MotoGP season. A social media post featuring a video with images of the open sea and a new logo playing with the profile of a shark and the word 'Acosta' confirmed the news right before the start of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
This move brings a massive chapter to a close. Acosta has competed in the colours of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and carried Red Bull sponsorship across different series, ending a six-year partnership with the marque in the world championship, with the last three spent in the premier class.
His rise through the ranks has been nothing short of stunning. He finished as runner-up in the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2019 before taking the title in 2020. In 2021, he stepped up to the Moto3 World Championship with the Ajo KTM Red Bull team, won the championship immediately, and moved straight to Moto2 in 2022 with the same structure, claiming another title with seven wins and 14 podiums.
By 2024, he made his MotoGP debut with the satellite Tech 3 KTM Red Bull team, eventually stepping up to the factory team last year. Throughout all of this, Red Bull was never actually Acosta's personal sponsor, nor did they pay him to carry their logo on his cap, helmet, or leathers. Instead, he was bound by an agreement with KTM to display the Mattighofen manufacturer's sponsors.
Now, freedom has arrived with his upcoming move to Ducati, allowing Acosta to sign a personal sponsorship contract with one of Red Bull's main competitors. Monster sponsors the Ducati team and holds a contract with it until the end of 2027, meaning both the Italian team and the rider will have to make a move when that agreement expires.
At Ducati, Acosta will team up with Marc Marquez, the Spanish champion who himself had to give up his personal sponsorship with dating back to his time as a Honda HRC rider in order to sign for the Italian squad. Meanwhile, rumours suggest that Red Bull could arrive at the Bologna team in two years' time, though that information remains unconfirmed.
MotoGP
MotoGP
