PADDOCK FIGURES SEE ACOSTA HELPING MARQUEZ’S 2026 TITLE BID

Pedro Acosta could become an unexpected factor in Marc Marquez’s bid for the 2026 MotoGP title, according to figures in the paddock. The KTM rider is set to join Ducati in 2027 as Marquez’s teammate, and a report by El Periodico suggests that helping Marquez now could put Acosta in a favourable position at his future team.

The championship remains finely balanced after the Indonesian Grand Prix, with Jorge Martin two points ahead of Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi still in contention. Bezzecchi’s Sunday victory brought him only three points closer to the leaders. Acosta, meanwhile, is fifth, 97 points behind Martin, and has dismissed his own chances, describing the title fight as “a two-horse race” between Martin and Marquez. Marquez believes Bezzecchi remains a contender.

Mandalika had looked difficult for Marquez, who had never completed a Sunday race there. He won the Sprint after Bezzecchi crashed with Raul Fernandez and Martin encountered tyre-pressure problems. In the main race, Marquez fell from third to sixth, limiting the damage as his rivals failed to open a significant gap.

Aprilia’s RS-GP has been the strongest bike this season, while Marquez is still dealing with physical difficulties. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has identified Phillip Island as a key test of whether Marquez can match the Aprilia. With five rounds remaining, the pressure is mounting on the reigning champion.

Whether Acosta would actually assist Marquez is uncertain, but the possibility raises questions about team orders in the title battle. Tardozzi has argued that Aprilia should use team orders after Bezzecchi’s collision with Fernandez hurt his weekend and championship prospects. Ducati, for its part, is likely to prioritise Marquez: he is 92 points ahead of the next Ducati rider, Fabio Di Giannantonio.