Pedro Acosta’s Ducati switch overshadowed as KTM’s engine crisis deepens

Pedro Acosta’s move to Ducati next season is taking a backseat to KTM’s engine meltdown, which has turned the Austrian brand’s rivals into gatekeepers of the rulebook.

What’s happening with KTM’s engines?

KTM’s MotoGP bikes have hit a reliability wall this season, racking up retirements and midfield finishes. The only KTM rider still finishing near the front is **Pedro Acosta**, who’s set to join Ducati in 2027. But the team’s engine issues have spiraled into a full-blown crisis, with crashes and power losses plaguing races.

On 18 June at the Italian GP, Acosta’s KTM lost power mid-straight, triggering a collision with Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing. Pit Beirer, KTM’s team boss, called the failures a safety risk, citing multiple DNFs tied to engine faults.

Why KTM wants to crack open its engines

KTM blames its engine freeze rules for blocking fixes. Under MotoGP’s engine freeze, manufacturers must seal their powerplants before the season opener. Any change-even a diagnostic teardown-requires unanimous approval from rival teams via the MSMA.

Beirer argued the current setup is unsafe. He told Sky Italia: “We know there’s still this risk with some parts… there is a problem, and we have to solve it.” Yet the paddock isn’t biting.

The rivals’ veto

KTM’s request to inspect its engines has been met with near-universal rejection. Only Aprilia has greenlit the move, while the rest-including Ducati, Yamaha, and Honda-have shut the door. The MSMA’s rules leave no wiggle room: sealed engines stay sealed unless every member agrees.

April’s Fabiano Sterlacchini and Massimo Rivola are the lone supporters, per Beirer. “I want to thank Sterlacchini and Rivola,” he said. “The situation is not easy. There is something wrong inside our engines.”

What’s next for Acosta and KTM?

With rivals dug in, KTM’s engine problems look set to drag on. Acosta’s Ducati switch looms, but the team’s struggles have overshadowed even that headline move. For now, the only near-certainty is more retirements-and more frustration in the KTM garage.

Beirer isn’t backing down. “We have to solve it,” he said. But solving it may require breaking the rules-and the paddock isn’t handing out that permission.