Let's talk MotoGP: Nobody talks about Pedro Acosta, and that's a shame

You've probably noticed that Pedro Acosta has been falling off a lot this year. But are you following the results of the other KTM riders? Since mid-season, Acosta has been riding high, raising the hopes of the Mattighofen-based company. While Bastianini and Vinales have also had some great times in 2025, neither has Acosta's consistent performance.

 

Acosta succeeds where others fail

 

Of course, his results may seem rather anecdotal, in the end, given his immense talent. After all, Fermin Aldeguer managed to take his first victory in MotoGP before the shark of Mazarron, but we must not omit the context with which the two pilots compose. If Aldeguer is equipped with one of the best machines in the history of Grand Prix, Pedro Acosta rides with an unpredictable bike, capable of sending his riders to the ground for no reason. As he said after the Indonesian Grand Prix, the RC16 does not give any feedback from the front, which leads, on the one hand, to sometimes inexplicable performances, and, more trivially, many falls.

 

 

Acosta has made his share of mistakes, like the others, but it must be said that in terms of speed, no one at KTM can outclass him. Maverick Vinales was doing well at the start of the season, and perhaps the experienced Spaniard could have rivalled Acosta if he had continued at this pace. But history, uncompromising, reminds us how inconsistent Vinales is as a driver, capable of the best as well as the worst. I don't know if it would have lasted, and no one else can say for sure. Bastianini, too, seemed more at ease since Brno. But he's lost his way in the last few weeks, and frankly, he's no longer putting one wheel in front of the other.

This is quite disturbing, because, even if he was never one of the most consistent, "Bestia" was still someone who frequently played for the podium last season; his career is not marked by chronic irregularity like that of Maverick Vinales, for example. Strange, but there may be an explanation for the Bastianini case, which I will discuss in a few lines.

In terms of performance, Pedro Acosta is now the only one to have remarkable qualifying and racing. And on a regular basis, what's more. In Indonesia, Acosta was fifth on the grid, the other KTMs, 15th and 17th! It's still crazy, especially since his teammate Brad Binder was definitely among the top three riders in the world in 2023, not so long ago. For me, Binder's poor performance this year illustrates Pedro Acosta's adaptability., who manages to get by with a machine a priori below its standards.

Acosta doesn't just make spectacular appearances, and that's perhaps the strongest. He's now a natural candidate for the podium, finishing second in Mandalika after an exceptional performance. He was simply monstrous, especially in defense. When you add to that a third place in the Sprint in Japan, two fourth places in Catalonia, another podium in Hungary, two top 3s in Brno... This makes his exercise honorable in view of his machine.

 

Change of mentality

 

 

The most impressive thing, in his case, his mental evolution certainly remains. A driver in a hurry, almost impatient at the start of the season, Acosta has transformed himself into a quiet force, who puts things into perspective with each press release.. It must be understood that, for him, a pure KTM product promised a magnificent future, the financial situation of his employer must not have been reassuring in the least. We know that all departments of KTM have been impacted, and, inevitably, such an atmosphere does not help the riders to project themselves, to fully dedicate their energy to performance and performance only. The upheavals are very real – and multiple – at KTM this year..

After the departure of Fabiano Sterlacchini – the former technical director now at Aprilia –, KTM also lost Austrian engine wizard Kurt Trieb, reportedly in rather murky circumstances.. Then, more recently, the Tech3 team was bought by a group of investors that included Günther Steiner, who came from Formula 1… but that's not all: Alberto Giribuola, Enea Bastianini's team boss at Tech3, left his position to join Pramac-Yamaha. This painful and sudden separation could perfectly explain Bastianini's recent problems. Again, it was brutal: "Bestia" would have imposed an ultimatum on Giribuola, which he immediately refused, leaving Poncharal and his men without a solution..

The reason I want to paint this picture for you is to highlight the instability that KTM is currently experiencing. And, Obviously, it's more difficult to concentrate in these conditions, that's obvious.. However, Pedro Acosta, still very involved with the factory, seems to be overcoming this, which demonstrates his newfound mental strength. Bravo to him, and I even hope he gets a victory before the end of the season because he fully deserves it.

What do you think of the current situation at KTM, and Pedro Acosta's performances? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport