Mick Doohan warns Marc Marquez over Pedro Acosta Ducati move

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Mick Doohan: Sharing a garage with Pedro Acosta will be ‘difficult’ for both of them

Mick Doohan doesn’t think Marc Marquez will lose any sleep over Pedro Acosta becoming his Ducati teammate in 2027, but he does expect the partnership to come with its challenges.

Acosta is expected to leave KTM when his contract ends later this year and step into Francesco Bagnaia’s place at the factory Ducati team. Ducati made their move after Bagnaia finished just fifth in the 2025 standings.

Acosta is expected to sign a two-year deal with Ducati. Meanwhile, there’s talk that Marquez could stay beyond 2026 if he agrees to another extension. Marquez, however, wants more flexibility due to his ongoing shoulder issues and the changes coming in 2027.

The new regulations set for 2027 have Marquez weighing up whether it’s worth committing long-term. The 33-year-old is wary of how his injury might hold up and isn’t sure if Ducati will adapt well to the new 850cc rules.

Pedro Acosta’s motivation to ‘beat the old guy’ will be ‘tough’ for Marc Marquez

Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Doohan does not believe that Marquez is concerned about whichever rider Ducati may field next to him, amid the suggestions that Acosta is due to join from KTM. He believes Marquez wants to beat everyone, so he would feel the same if someone like Marco Bezzecchi arrived.

Five-time 500cc champion Doohan does, however, think Acosta and Marquez will be a tough test for each other if they, indeed, share the Ducati garage next term. The two Spaniards will want to emerge as the top dog in red when Acosta will also want to dethrone the old guard.

Doohan told MARCA: “I can say that, as a rider, whether in my era or Marc Marquez’s, Marc is focused on himself. Doesn’t Ducati want to have the best riders on their team or with their bikes? Acosta has incredible talent. What he’s doing with KTM is amazing.

“It will be difficult for both of them. They’re both Spanish and incredibly talented. Marc won’t be young anymore, and you have the young guy gaining experience who’s incredibly fast and wants to beat the old guy, which is Marc.

“Similarly, Marc doesn’t want to be beaten by the young guy. But if [Acosta] becomes a Ducati rider, that wouldn’t matter. If Bezzecchi got on that bike, it would be the same.

“As a rider, to win a race or the world championship, you have to beat everyone, including your teammate. The best riders don’t care who their teammate is… The teammate is the one who has to worry more about winning than the one who is already established.”

Read more:

• Why Honda chose David Alonso when Ducati and Yamaha said no
• Pedro Acosta could have similar impact on Marc Marquez as Jorge Lorenzo had on Valentino Rossi
• Marc Marquez’s COTA struggles have Thomas Luthi ringing alarm bells at Ducati