Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has officially locked in its rider pairing for the 2027 MotoGP season, naming Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio as the team's two riders for the championship's new 850cc era.
The confirmation comes after a campaign defined by upheaval at the Austrian manufacturer. Pedro Acosta, widely regarded as one of MotoGP's brightest talents, will depart at the end of 2026 to join the factory Ducati squad. Brad Binder's future remains unresolved, though persistent links to a WorldSBK switch with BMW have circulated for months.
Team manager Aki Ajo struck an upbeat tone when addressing the new line-up in an interview with MotoGP.com. "I have to say as well that this rider, let's say, 'gamble' was already since last summer, and of course winter time was also really busy for us," he said. "I would say that we are really enthusiastic and of course also really pleased and happy about our choices."
Alex Marquez, the younger brother of six-time world champion Marc Marquez, arrives from Gresini Racing after a strong 2025 and 2026 campaign. Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, steps up from VR46 having impressed with his pace and consistency. Both riders will navigate the seismic technical shift to 850cc machinery — a regulation overhaul that will reshape bike development across the entire grid.
Ajo was careful to stress that the current season remains the priority. "We still have half a-season to go, so the main focus of course is here on the track and on many areas in the project," he said, referencing the contributions of Acosta and Binder as well as satellite riders Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini.
The reshuffling underscores KTM's ambition to remain competitive despite losing Acosta, whose departure represents a significant blow. The coming months will reveal whether the Marquez-Di Giannantonio pairing can carry the RC16 forward into a new technical chapter.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1102026/1/ktm-pleased-and-happy-2027-motogp-rider-line
