MARC MARQUEZ WAIVED A CONTRACT CLAUSE TO HELP DUCATI SIGN PEDRO ACOSTA, SAYS FORMER HONDA ENGINEER
9 Sept·
A former Honda engineer has claimed Marc Marquez played an active role in paving the way for Ducati to sign Pedro Acosta for the 2027 MotoGP season, including waiving a contract clause that could have complicated the move.
Oscar Haro, who worked with Marquez during his time at the factory Honda team, told Nico Abad via La Sexta that Marquez was fully aware of what was coming and that he effectively “opened the door” for Acosta at Ducati. Haro’s central point was that Marquez had the option to block the signing in the way some top riders have done in the past, but chose not to.
Haro said: “Marc is fully aware of what’s coming.” He then added: “If there’s anyone who’s opened the door for Pedro at Ducati, it’s Marc Marquez. Why? Because Marc has an amazing connection with Gigi Dall’Igna and Tardozzi.”
The engineer also suggested that Marquez’s mindset was shaped by the relationships and conversations he was able to have within Ducati’s leadership. “I’m sure he had that conversation, because I know what Marc is like,” Haro said.
To explain how Marquez’s approach differed from other riders, Haro compared the situation to Valentino Rossi’s experience at Yamaha. He referenced Rossi’s frustration when Yamaha had already signed Jorge Lorenzo for 2008 and noted that Rossi could not change the decision. Haro contrasted that with Marquez’s willingness to allow the move to proceed, saying: “And he had the option, like Valentino Rossi used to do, where Valentino Rossi could say ‘I don’t want this guy’ and that would be the end of it.”
The reported Ducati pairing of Marquez and Acosta is widely framed as one of the most anticipated teammate battles in the sport. Haro’s comments also point to the competitive edge Marquez is expected to bring, with Acosta already setting a clear target for their first shared test at the end of the current season—aiming to beat Marquez immediately.
Acosta, for his part, has already tried to manage expectations around his first year with Ducati by explaining that he will need time to adapt to a new environment. Having spent most of his Grand Prix career within KTM’s setup, the transition is described as a major change.
Still, the groundwork for a fast rivalry has been laid by recent racing. After Acosta and Marquez’s duel at the 2026 season-opener in Thailand, the expectation is that their competitive dynamic will carry into 2027. Buriram is set to host the first round of racing for the third consecutive year, setting the stage for another early chapter in their teammate story on Ducati machinery.