MotoGP star Pedro Acosta wants to keep racing beyond 35

Pedro Acosta has expressed a desire to continue racing motorcycles well into his mid-30s, insisting he has no interest in retiring early from MotoGP.

Acosta made his premier class debut in 2024 at just 19 and has quickly established himself as one of the standout riders on the grid.

His early career trajectory has drawn comparisons with Max Verstappen, who also joined Formula 1 as a teen and went on to break several long-standing records in the championship.

But Verstappen has always maintained that he doesn’t intend to remain in F1 until his late 30s or early 40s, while his recent criticism of 2026 rules has led to fears that he may not even see out his current Red Bull contract through to 2028.

But Acosta says he doesn’t want to follow the example of the four-time F1 champion, noting that he still has plenty to achieve in his career.

“It’s difficult to say because Max already won everything he wanted to when he was a kid,” he said. “We are not in the same moment of our careers. 

“Also, in the world of cars, there are more options because you have a lot of championships that are quite nice, like he's doing endurance [racing] now. Also, there are many legendary tracks to go to.

“Normally, I enjoy watching Moto America a lot. For this, maybe why not one day come here [to the US] and learn new tracks without pressure.”

Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

MotoGP riders typically retire earlier than their F1 counterparts, with 35 often seen as a natural endpoint for careers in a series where injuries remain quite common.

Acosta already has two world championships under his belt, having won a title each in Moto3 and Moto2 before stepping up to MotoGP.

The Spaniard turns 22 this year and is set to join Ducati’s factory team in 2026 as part of an all-star line-up alongside Marc Marquez.

Asked about the prospect of matching Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record of 15 world champions, Acosta outlined his desire to extend his career in motorcycle racing, joking he won’t know what to do after retirement.

“If I win 13 [more], I should be 35 [years old],” he said. “I think after 35, I will still have a career. Also, I don't know how to do other things in life. I think bikes will be my ‘el ataud’ [I would like to race as long as I can].

“When my career stops, maybe I don't know what to do in life, I’ll go to Thailand to be on the beach. I don't know.”