Despite intense Silly Season speculation and the undeniable pressure exerted by phenomenal rookie Pedro Acosta’s immediate success, KTM’s management is enforcing a contractual lock on its entire four-rider RC16 program through the end of the 2026 Grand Prix season.
The team’s decision to maintain status quo directly addresses, and effectively squashes, rumors of a potential early exit for the two-time World Champion Acosta, who is reportedly eager for a more consistent race-winning package. This firmness prevents a major rider market domino effect that would have immediately created a high-stakes vacancy.
The Confirmed Factory and Tech3 Lineup
KTM has leveraged its existing multi-year deals to create an impenetrable rider fortress, prioritizing team stability over capitalizing on the current market frenzy.
| Team | Rider | Contract Expiry | Key Strength |
| Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Brad Binder | End of 2026 | Consistent podium contender and long-term factory stalwart. |
| Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | Pedro Acosta | End of 2026 | Rookie sensation and arguably the sport’s biggest future asset with exceptional pace. |
| Red Bull KTM Tech3 | Maverick Viñales | End of 2026 | Proven race winner bringing a wealth of experience from rival manufacturers. |
| Red Bull KTM Tech3 | Enea Bastianini | End of 2026 | A former factory Ducati rider and Sprint Race specialist seeking a career resurgence. |
The Acosta Factor: A Strategic Hold
The primary flashpoint remains Acosta, whose blistering pace and several premier class podiums have made the KTM RC16 the unexpected center of the rider transfer saga. His manager, Albert Valera, previously hinted at the possibility of activating an exit clause to secure a more immediately competitive ride elsewhere, with the VR46 Ducati team being a heavily rumored destination.
However, KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer’s insistence that the full quartet will ride in 2026 confirms that the Austrian manufacturer has secured its crown jewel. By retaining Acosta, KTM signals a commitment to using the 2025 and 2026 seasons to drastically improve the RC16 development curve and close the performance gap to rivals, thus satisfying their young star’s hunger for a championship-contending machine before the massive 2027 technical regulation change throws the entire grid into uncertainty.
This powerful declaration sets the stage for a compelling internal battle, with four Grand Prix winners vying for supremacy aboard the orange bikes.
Source
- 2026 MotoGP Rider Line-up Confirmation (Crash.net): The full 2026 MotoGP grid and contract situation, including KTM
- Official KTM Announcement for Tech3 Riders: Bastianini & Viñales to bring fierce MotoGP™ speed as Tech3 pivot to Red Bull KTM orange for 2025 (multi-year deal)
- Official KTM Announcement for Pedro Acosta: Pedro Acosta to continue Red Bull KTM story with fresh MotoGP™ contract (confirming multi-year deal through 2026)
- Full MotoGP 2026 Rider Line-up (The Race): MotoGP 2026 rider line-up in full
- 2026 MotoGP Line-up Overview (BikeSport News): 2026 MotoGP line-up: Who has signed, who is rumoured?
Our Social Media Handles
- Instagram : LivingWithGravity
- Medium : Akash Dolas
- YouTube Channel : Gear and Shutter
- Facebook : LivingWithGravity
