While passing through Cartagena, as part of the private tests organized by Johann Zarco, in December, Paddock-GP had the chance to meet the father of Peter Acosta on his fishing boat, moored in the city's port. During our discussions, which you will have the opportunity to discover little by little in the coming days, we were able to discuss a wide range of subjects, from the world of fishing to that of motorcycling, focusing on the journey of his son to MotoGP, where he now rides for the KTM factory team.
The first part of this interview is dedicated to the unusual destiny of Mr. Acosta, this fisherman, passionate about motorbikes since the days of Kevin Schwantz's Grand Prix, and whose son will become one of the main actors of the sport that animated him through the screens.
Hello Mr. Acosta, what a beautiful boat! Tell us a little about your business.
"We are with the company Ricardos Fuentes, which works exclusively with tuna. All my life I have been a fisherman. I catch anchovies, mackerel, bonito and sardines. But life has changed, and it is increasingly difficult in the fishing sector. So in the end, we had a small meeting with the company, Ricardo Fuentes, and they give us work. It has been four years now, and everything is going well in the tuna sector and all that. It has given me more time to travel with my son, Pedro, to go to the world championship races. And it is great, it is wonderful."
Are you spending the whole night at sea?
“Yes, all night. You saw it, we leave around eleven in the morning, and we don’t get back to the port until eight in the morning. We do a week like that as a group, and the following weeks, it’s other groups. So each group works a week and a half. That gives us a lot of free time to be with the family at home. Ultimately, it’s priceless in life to be able to stay with your family. It’s really good. Nothing is more valuable in life than being with your family, and those you love. We’re very good, and on top of that I have a lot more time to be with Pedro [Acosta] a little bit. It’s more complicated than before. He’s always traveling, at events, at interviews,… You know how this world works.”
Do you sometimes go to the Grand Prix?
“Yes, yes, I go whenever I can. Before, I went more often. Two years ago, I did the whole world championship. I didn’t miss a single race, I know all the trips and circuits. This year, I missed the Asian tour, because it’s a bit long. It’s a lot of time away from home. This year, it was my wife who did it. Pedro’s mother, Miriam, went with him. I stayed here, with the boat and the workers.”
A boat decorated with all your son's numbers!
“Yes! Since he was little, when he started riding motorcycles, I started decorating the boat a little bit. The 34, I put it on him when he was little, because I was a big fan of Kevin Schwantz. He always wore 34, which was the number I liked. But when he grew up, and we thought there was an opportunity to join the world championship, we had to find another one. It’s Kevin Schwantz’s number, and no one will wear it anymore, because it’s retired in MotoGP. We needed a number that no one wears, and that he liked. The idea of racing with 37 came to him, and he stayed with 37.”
He will get it back this year, after having to spend a year with the 31.
“That’s it, he’s taking it back this year, thanks to Augusto. As you know, he’s becoming a test rider at Yamaha, so Pedro gets his original number back. We’ll see what happens, because it’s a great motivation for him, to have his number. He’s very happy with the way the KTM project is going. We have great hopes, because KTM is our brand. We’ve been saying that since Pedro started in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, before Moto3 and Moto2. We’ll see if we can fight against the Ducatis. It will be very complicated, but not impossible. He’s motivated, and very happy with the project. We have to move forward.”
Fish aren't afraid of Mazzaron's shark?
"They are very afraid, very afraid (laughs). In the end, people here identify a lot with Pedro. They call themselves the sharks, the 'Baby sharks'."
Do people recognize you at sea with this boat?
“Yes, yes. And especially in the summer. When we are here, and we are making the tuna cages, a lot of people come, tourists, etc. They approach the boat to ask questions, take pictures and all that. It’s a lovely thing, that people share the hopes that you have. It’s great.”
And Pedro goes fishing with you from time to time?
“When he was little. When he was between 6 and 8 years old, I would take him out on the boat from time to time to fish. But I never wanted him to become a fisherman or anything. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s good. But you spend a lot of time away from home, because this boat is not a trawler, it’s a purse seiner. With this we are always where the fish are. I fished in the Gulf of Lion, in Rosas, Barcelona, Valencia, Cullera. In short, the whole Mediterranean. So I was always away from home. I didn’t want that life for my son. I preferred him to be a firefighter, a policeman, I don’t know. Something he liked. When he was little, I took him with me to show him what it was like, how hard it was.”
Finally, he chose the motorcycle…
In the second part of our interview with Pedro Acosta's father, you will learn more about the Spaniard's incredible journey to MotoGP, in a family facing certain financial limitations.