Acosta Joins Monster Energy Stable in 2027
The Red Bull-backed MotoGP rider moves to Ducati's Monster Energy partnership, with Fabio Quartararo heading the other way.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Motorsports
Pedro Acosta is leaving Red Bull for Monster Energy as he joins Ducati, with Monster Energy social media posts indicating he will join its stable from 2027. Monster Energy is set to lose Fabio Quartararo to Red Bull in the same shake-up.
Why it matters
Acosta has worn Red Bull colours since the 2019 Rookies Cup, so the switch marks a major shift in one of motorsport's most visible sponsorship relationships. It also reshuffles sponsor allegiances across the MotoGP paddock.
Acosta won the Moto3 title in his 2021 rookie season and the Moto2 crown in 2023 before joining MotoGP in 2024. He took his first premier-class victory at the Red Bull Ring this season and has won Sprint races in Buriram and Sepang.
The players
Pedro Acosta
A Spanish motorcycle racer who has progressed through Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP and is known for his rapid rise through the junior ranks.
Monster Energy
An energy drink brand that sponsors Ducati and is set to add Acosta to its rider roster.
Red Bull
The energy drink company that has sponsored Acosta since his 2019 Rookies Cup days and is set to gain Fabio Quartararo.
Fabio Quartararo
A French MotoGP rider who is moving from Monster Energy's orbit to Honda, with Red Bull as the sponsor on the other side of the exchange.
The details
Marc Marquez replaced Red Bull with Estrella Galicia as his personal sponsor, showing how rider backing continues to change hands. Acosta's initial Ducati contract covers the first two years of the 850cc/Pirelli era.
Timeline
2019: Acosta begins wearing Red Bull colours at the Rookies Cup.
2021: Acosta wins the Moto3 title in his rookie Grand Prix season.
2023: Acosta wins the Moto2 crown.
2024: Acosta joins MotoGP.
2027: Acosta joins the Monster Energy stable and Ducati.
Season Trajectory
The move lands as MotoGP enters its 850cc/Pirelli era, a regulatory reset that reshapes team and rider contracts for the next generation. Acosta's Ducati deal covering the first two years of that era positions Monster Energy as a long-term partner in the new cycle.
Fantasy and team-management players tracking MotoGP rosters should note the 2027 move, since it changes which factory team Acosta races for. The sponsor swap also affects which brands appear on rider livery and in team broadcasts from that season on.
The takeaway
Rider sponsorship is a long-running contract that shapes a career, so a switch like this signals where a rider and team expect to be heading. Watching how these deals line up with the 850cc/Pirelli reset will show which teams are positioned for the next decade.
Further reading
For more on the riders and teams shaping this shift, browse the Motorsports section.
