Double MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has endorsed Pedro Acosta’s upcoming move to Ducati, predicting the talented Spaniard will soon be “a big threat” in MotoGP—though he urges Acosta to develop greater patience if he wants to become world champion.
“You can’t argue with the [2027 Ducati] line-up,” said Stoner, who delivered Ducati’s first premier-class title in 2007. “Marc [Marquez] is incredibly dependable… and Pedro, we’ve seen the talent for sure. I think I would like to see a little bit more patience, because… if you’re going to win championships, this doesn’t really work. You really need to know some days you’re not going to win, and you need to accept that.”
Stoner believes Acosta’s raw speed, combined with a proven Ducati package, will make him a formidable force, but warns that championship success requires maturity: “Sometimes [Acosta] could be maybe a little bit more patient, then we can see the talent come out a lot more… when the time comes, he will, for sure, be a big threat, especially on a bike that is proven.”
The Australian also expressed sympathy for Pecco Bagnaia, who will leave Ducati for Aprilia despite delivering the manufacturer its first titles since Stoner’s 2007 triumph. “I feel very sorry for Pecco, because for sure the last period he struggled a little bit… I was watching the bike do things that it shouldn’t be doing. Considering Pecco is the one that really gave them their first championship since mine—back-to-back—and was second either side of that… he got the short straw, for sure.
“I’m excited to see what can happen for him to find some new motivation, hopefully a new family in Aprilia and get back to his ways and where he was confident.”
With Ducati’s new line-up of Marquez and Acosta, and Bagnaia’s move to Aprilia, the next MotoGP season is set for a dramatic shake-up.
