While KTM arrived at Misano in a strong position after its recent podium finishes, the first day of testing provided a rude awakening. In a struggling team, Pedro Acosta once again made the difference by qualifying directly for Q2, becoming the only representative from the orange camp to achieve this.
The Spanish phenomenon did not hide his dismay at the suddenly capricious RC16: " Since Brno we had a stable motorcycle. Today I woke up with an unstable motorcycle : she pumps, jumps, does all kinds of things »
The problem was particularly pronounced in the fast section of the route: " especially in turn 3, this fast section, it was almost impossible to find the trajectory consistently. » A situation which prevented him from »chain the turns " and compromised its regularity.
Faced with these unforeseen difficulties, Acosta has lowered its ambitions. Its direct qualification in Q2 already represents a victory: " given my discomfort, that was our goal. Now, It's about staying calm, not getting angry and work for tomorrow »
A mature approach that confirms his recent transformation into a pragmatic pilot, able to handle difficult weekends.
Asked about the choice of rubbers, Acosta remains surprisingly neutral: " Whether medium or soft, both tires are similar. One offers a little more stability, the other a little more grip. It's a matter of taste. I like both about equally. »
Pedro Acosta: “ I will surprise everyone again in the race »
A versatility that could become an asset for the race, allowing it to adapt to different strategies.
The main task for his team: solving the problem of regularity. What bothered me most was not the braking, but rather the fact of not being able to make regular turns »
Nevertheless, Acosta keep faith and promise: "I will surprise everyone again in the race "His immediate goal is clear – to work with his engineers to regain a stable base that will allow for consistent laps.
The performance ofAcosta highlights the difficulties of the rest of the KTM contingent: Brad Binder et Maverick Vinales will have to go through Q1. Enea Bastianini, recent podium in Barcelona, finished only 17thè.
The contrast is striking with the recent races where the RC16s seemed to have found their mark. Proof that in modern MotoGP, performance stability remains a constant challenge, even for the most competitive teams.
Acosta, once again, plays the savior for KTMHis ability to extract the maximum from a difficult bike confirms that he is the spearhead of the Austrian crest. His next challenge: to transform this prequalification into a convincing result on Saturday, and perhaps create another surprise.
Prequalification Tests MotoGP San Marino GP
