KTM fields Alex Marquez for 2027 MotoGP reset
Alex Marquez will return to factory MotoGP status in 2027, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing confirming a multi-year deal for the Spaniard as the Austrian manufacturer moves towards the next technical era of the sport.
The signing takes Marquez out of the Gresini Ducati structure at the end of the current season and into the next major phase of KTM’s MotoGP project, where the RC16 will be developed for the upcoming 850cc formula.
It’s a move that underlines how far Marquez has progressed in his time with Gresini. Once viewed by many as Honda’s struggles through a narrow lens, Alex has rebuilt his MotoGP position with a level of pace, consistency and race maturity that has made him one of the most valuable names in the 2027 market.
Alex Marquez at Red Bull KTM from 2027
A former Moto3 and Moto2 World Champion, a Grand Prix winner in all three classes, and a rider with six years of MotoGP experience and 13 seasons of World Championship racing on his CV.
His career tally has now reached 16 Grand Prix wins and 56 podiums across three categories, with the KTM also pointing to his history with the brand in the junior ranks. Márquez achieved his first Grand Prix podium and first win in Moto3 on a KTM RC4 in 2013.
However, it is recent data that has made this deal possible.
After a breakout season with Gresini, Alex Marquez finished 2025 MotoGP World Championship runner-up after wins in Jerez, Catalunya and Malaysia. He continued that momentum into 2026 and won again at Jerez, giving Ducati its first Grand Prix win of the season and confirming that his 2025 form was no one-off.
That progress was brutally interrupted in Catalunya, where Márquez was involved in a horrific crash with Pedro Acosta during the Grand Prix just one day after scoring his first sprint victory of the year. The accident broke his right collarbone and caused a small fracture to his C7 vertebra, requiring surgery to stabilize the collarbone.
He has since returned to action, but the recovery process remains part of the story. For KTM, this only sharpens the context of the signing: Marquez has already done enough over the last season and a half to convince the Orange camp that he is a rider worth building upon.
Pit Bearer – KTM Motorsports Director
“We are extremely proud and delighted to have acquired an extraordinary talent like Alex Márquez – the 2025 World Championship runner-up – to our project. Alex brings not only excellent skills and race intelligence, but also determination and a winning mentality that matches our DNA perfectly. Together we share a clear objective: to take the KTM RC 16 to the next level and fight at the forefront of MotoGP.”
For KTM, Alex Marquez brings more than results. He brings current Ducati experience, proven satellite-team tenacity, factory-team background from his rookie MotoGP season and a rider’s eye for development at a time when every manufacturer is preparing for a significant reset.
Gresini’s departure already has an emotional edge
For Gresini, losing Alex Marquez is both a blow and a compliment. The team gave him the platform to rebuild his MotoGP career, and he has repaid that faith with race wins, podiums and a return to genuine front-running status.
Nadia Padovani’s message echoed a relationship that means more than just results.
Nadia Padovani – Gresini Racing
“Alex, it’s really hard to let you go. We shared emotions, growth and moments that I will always keep in my heart. I am proud of the man and the rider. But before we say goodbye, there is still another chapter to write together. Let’s do it with the same determination that has always separated us.”
That last chapter may still be important. Marquez and Gresini have survived the race together, and while his mid-season injury has obviously put a check on how great his form had been, his return to the bike already suggests that competitive base remains.
This will be an exciting partnership to see the new 850 era evolve into 2027.
