Moto3 star rookie Acosta set for 2024 MotoGP promotion
Star Moto3 rookie Pedro Acosta will make his MotoGP debut in 2024 after agreeing a new three-year KTM deal that will begin with two seasons in Moto2 starting in 2022.
Acosta has stunned the grand prix paddock in 2021 after making a winning start to his career in just his second race, where he came from pit lane to win the Doha Grand Prix.
The 17-year-old has won five races so far in 2021 for the Ajo KTM team and is currently in a commanding lead of the Moto3 championship standings by 41 points.
Acosta has been linked to a step up to Moto2 for his second season in grand prix racing next year for some time, with that move looking more likely when KTM announced the signing of both Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez to Tech3 in MotoGP for 2022.
Motorsport.com understands Acosta has now signed directly with KTM for the next three years and will join Ajo’s squad in 2022 in Moto2 before stepping up to MotoGP by 2024.
An official announcement from KTM is expected in the coming days.
Sources familiar with Acosta’s contract says there is no clause in it which will allow the rider to step up to MotoGP earlier than 2024, thus taking pressure off his shoulders as he adapts to Moto2.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Ajo
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Signing a Moto3 rider to a MotoGP contract several years down the line is not without precedent, with Yamaha famously signing Jorge Lorenzo two years before his MotoGP debut in 2008.
Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira will continue to helm KTM’s factory MotoGP squad in 2022, with the former agreeing a new deal earlier this year which takes him to the end of 2024.
At Tech3, current Ajo team-mates and championship leaders Gardner and Fernandez will race complete KTM’s 2022 line-up – with the latter’s contract running to the end of 2023.
However, it’s understood Fernandez is unhappy with the deal and was previously trying to secure a move to Petronas SRT.
In Moto2, it’s expected Acosta will be joined by current Marc VDS rider Augusto Fernandez (who has no relation to the outgoing Raul Fernandez).
Share Or Save This Story
What we know about Ducati’s Balaton Park test ahead of new MotoGP race
Why Marc Marquez stressed his Ducati is identical to brother Alex's in Aragon MotoGP
How Michael Jordan inspires Acosta to bet on KTM for his MotoGP future
Pedro Acosta sends KTM to the top in Barcelona despite “bittersweet” feeling
Pedro Acosta ‘barely makes it through’ to Q2 after “unexpected” crash in French GP practice
Where MotoGP’s penalty system still lacks clarity
KTM will "fight" to retain Tech3 as satellite MotoGP team
Fabio di Giannantonio commits to KTM and opens the door for Nicolo Bulega at VR46
Tech3 close to deciding between KTM and Honda for 2027 MotoGP deal
Kyle Larson leads NASCAR All-Star Race practice at Dover
AM Racing formally closes NASCAR operation
Ollie Bearman admits F2 did not prepare him for brutal reality of Ferrari F1 debut
What makes Max Verstappen’s Nurburgring Mercedes different under the skin
As Marquez sinks and Martin surges, Bezzecchi knows exactly who to beat for the MotoGP title
Five things we learned at the MotoGP French Grand Prix
The uncomfortable questions posed by Marc Marquez’s recent MotoGP form
Five things we learned from MotoGP’s Spanish GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments