TARDOZZI SAYS DUCATI DIDN’T EVEN CONSIDER QUARTARARO BEFORE SIGNING PEDRO ACOSTA
9 Sept·
Ducati’s decision to sign Pedro Acosta was made with a clear focus from the start, according to team manager Davide Tardozzi. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Tardozzi said Ducati did not explore alternatives once the chance to secure Acosta appeared and the talks reached a “good point.”
Tardozzi’s comments come in the context of Ducati replacing Francesco Bagnaia after a difficult season. While Acosta has not yet won a premier-class race, he is widely regarded as a generational talent, and Ducati moved early—believed to be after Acosta signed his 2027 contract in December 2025, described as one of the earliest silly-season commitments in recent memory.
Asked whether Ducati considered other options on Bagnaia’s replacement list, Tardozzi was direct: “When the opportunity to sign Pedro presented itself and we reached a good point, we didn’t think about anything else.” He also framed the move as part of a wider belief in Ducati’s rider direction, adding, “We have signed two riders who we consider to be the best in the paddock.”
Tardozzi expects a strong pairing between Acosta and Marc Marquez, saying: “I think Marc and Pedro will make a magnificent team and will give us great satisfaction.” He suggested that the two riders’ relationship will be built on mutual recognition rather than friction, pointing to the respect already seen within Ducati’s current setup. “I’m also sure that Pedro recognises in Marc the value he has as a rider,” Tardozzi said, adding that Marc has repeatedly indicated Acosta “could be the future.”
He then drew a comparison between the dynamic of Marquez and Bagnaia and what he expects from Marquez and Acosta: “As is the case right now between Marc and Pecco, the respect between Pedro and Marc will be exactly the same.”
Beyond rider-to-rider chemistry, Tardozzi also referenced the role of Ducati’s leadership. “In addition, we have a great ‘capo’,” he said, referring to Gigi Dall’Igna. Tardozzi added that the riders’ respect for Dall’Igna reduces the likelihood of internal problems: “Riders will never create problems knowing how Gigi might react, so I’m not worried at all.”
On style and mentality, Tardozzi highlighted Acosta’s “aggression,” saying it reminded him of an earlier version of Marquez. “I think the two riders are very similar,” he explained. “Although over time Marc has calmed down, he is no longer so aggressive, but thinks more during the race; I think Pedro is a version of his early years.” He continued: “I think Pedro has those characteristics of aggressiveness and desire to win that I saw in Marc in his early years.”
The report also notes that Fabio Quartararo was viewed as a major alternative on the market. Quartararo’s move to Honda is already in place, and Tardozzi’s comments effectively confirm Ducati did not attempt to sign him. The piece further states Ducati overlooked other internal candidates such as Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who are set to become KTM factory riders instead, and that a reunion with Jorge Martin—taking Quartararo’s place at Yamaha—was not considered.