Pedro Acosta is now ranked among the phenomena to watch in Grand Prix. A small feat when we know that exactly a year ago, he languished in relative anonymity, among a compact group of emerging talents. Then there were these two opening races in Qatar, including a resounding victory in the last one in Doha, starting from the pit lane. The momentum continued during the first part of the campaign before slowing down and regaining strength at the decisive moment to gird the crown. The seed of champion is in full bloom and it is expected to flourish in Moto2. At just over 17 years old...
Exactly, let's talk about this marital status. One day later, Peter Acosta missed his appointment with history. In fact, at the age of 17 years and 166 days, which makes him only the second youngest world champion of all time. Indeed, Loris Capirossi, was a day younger when he triumphed in the entry category of the Grands Prix of the time which was the 125.
That being said, no one before the Spaniard had achieved four podiums in the first four races of their career. The Red Bull-KTM-Ajo nugget is also only the third teenager to have achieved at least three Grand Prix victories before his 17th birthday, alongside Marco Melandri (3 victories) and Maverick Vinales (4 successes).
« Arriving in the best team in the Moto3 and Moto2 paddock was a good opportunity for me to be able to say: “now, you are in a high level team, now you have to do it for yourself and for the guys who support you " ", said Acosta, who has already celebrated his first victory in his second Grand Prix, after starting from the pit lane. “ The first victory is always the most important “, declared the young Spaniard. “ Everyone thought winning from pit lane would be impossible. But why couldn't we make up 10 seconds in 18 laps? » remembers the teammate of a farmhouse of which he was the executioner.
Pedro Acosta: “ family helps me keep my feet on the ground«
Looking back, the Moto3 world champion analyzes speedweek : " the first half of the season and the victory in the first race after the summer break were important. I started making mistakes when I started thinking a lot about the championship “, he said, referring in particular to his accident in Aragon.
More Acosta, it is above all a mentality and a good education distilled by his family environment: “ if I win, the family helps me keep my feet on the ground. And when I lose, they help me have the mental strength to say to myself: 'You can do it again.'” And that helped him against an opponent revealed late, but who proved formidable: “ Foggia has been the strongest in the last six races. But we had to believe in ourselves ", said Acosta, which finally came to fruition at the Algarve Grand Prix in Portimão. “ I felt like I had everything under control. I said on Saturday afternoon: 'Tomorrow we'll see a show.' I had a blue bike behind me all weekend so I had to play my cards. When I saw him in front of me, I told myself it was time to put pressure on him. It certainly helped us a little », smiles the 17-year-old looking back.
Acosta finished : " I think it was the year I had the most scares, with the accidents at Assen and Austin. However, I learned a lot, on and off the track, as a person. I learned to control myself, I know I can do it if I give 100% every day ". We probably haven't finished hearing about Peter Acosta...
