ACOSTA SAYS HIS JOKE ABOUT MARC MARQUEZ WAS MISUNDERSTOOD

Pedro Acosta says a joking remark about Marc Marquez is the one comment he wishes he had worded differently, as the pair prepare to become Ducati teammates in 2027.

Speaking to AS at Phillip Island, Acosta was asked whether he regretted anything he had said to reporters. He initially answered, “No,” but then singled out an appearance on the Spanish television programme La revuelta. There, he quipped, “Who is Marc Marquez?” Acosta said the line was “misunderstood far more than I realised” because the interview was light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek, while some people took it seriously. “Perhaps I should have phrased that differently,” he reflected, adding that it is difficult to know how others will interpret a comment.

Asked to confirm that he meant the remark about Marquez, Acosta replied, “Yes, yes, that’s right.” He then made clear how highly he regards the rider he will join at Ducati: “The best rider in the last 15 years. Fifteen might be a bit much, but something like that.”

Acosta has followed Marquez’s career since childhood and has often been compared with the eight-time world champion as a potential successor. The Spaniard has established himself in MotoGP with KTM and has been keen to compete on equal machinery with his compatriot. In 2027, he is set to replace Francesco Bagnaia in Ducati’s factory garage, setting up a closely watched intra-team contest.

Before that partnership begins, attention is also on the current title fight. Marquez is reported to be 10 points ahead of Jorge Martin after the Australian Grand Prix, with Aprilia and Martin among the challengers. Some paddock voices have suggested Acosta could support Marquez’s title bid in 2026, though their relationship as teammates will take on a different dimension once Acosta arrives at Ducati.

For now, Acosta’s explanation is that the La revuelta line was a joke, not a reflection of his view of Marquez. His description of the veteran as the best rider of roughly the past 15 years offers a far clearer indication of the respect he has for his future teammate.