Born on May 25, 2004 in Mazarrón, Pedro Acosta climbed every step of the path to MotoGP with a speed rarely seen, until becoming one of the strongest men on the grid and a credible candidate for the biggest roles in the future of the premier category.
Born in Mazarrón on May 25, 2005, Pedro Acosta first honed his skills in national competitions, where he quickly distinguished himself with his speed and attacking instincts. In 2017, he won the Pre-Moto3 championship before moving up to the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2018. The following year, he added the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to his schedule, finishing as runner-up with three victories, before completely dominating the 2020 edition with six consecutive wins in the first six rounds.
The big leap into Moto3
It was in 2021 that Pedro Acosta's career took on a new dimension. In his Moto3 debut with Red Bull KTM Ajo, he immediately secured a podium finish in Qatar, then made history by winning the Doha GP after starting from pit lane – a first in the category. Following this success, he delivered a string of top-level performances with three more podium finishes in his first four races, a blistering start that instantly propelled him to the forefront of the world championship.
That season, Acosta converted his potential into a resounding success. He added three more victories, secured the title before the end of the championship, and became Moto3 world champion in his very first year—a performance all the more remarkable as it made him the first rookie to win the title since Loris Capirossi. His success definitively validated the idea that he was not only fast, but already mature in his ability to manage races and the key moments of a season.
The rise in Moto2
Promoted to Moto2 in 2022 with the same technical and human environment at KTM Ajo, Acosta immediately confirmed his potential. He secured his first victory at Mugello, followed by a second win at Aragón, despite a broken femur that briefly sidelined him. His breakthrough in the intermediate class came in 2023. He reached a new milestone by winning the Moto2 world title with a two-race lead, an achievement that further cemented his status as a future MotoGP star.
At this level, Acosta has shown he can make a difference on a single lap, attack at the right moment, and maintain a title-winning season with surprising composure for his age. This is enough to convince anyone that he's ready for the elite level and MotoGP.
The following season, Acosta moved up to MotoGP with Red Bull GasGas Tech3, Hervé Poncharal's team, and the learning curve was steep, facing more experienced rivals and a still-demanding machine. He proved highly competitive from the very first races, with an impressive eighth-place finish in the sprint and a ninth-place finish in the race in Qatar, after battling with Marc Marquez. He followed this up in the next round, making his first appearance on the podium in Portimão. In the United States, he even led a Grand Prix for the first time, finishing second behind Maverick Viñales.
His first season in the premier class ended with a sixth-place finish in the championship, just two points behind Brad Binder, the top KTM rider, which perfectly illustrates his ability to adapt very quickly. He also secured his first MotoGP pole position in Japan. For a rookie, his results have already met, and even exceeded, expectations.
A promising future for Pedro Acosta
In 2025, his move to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing confirmed his place among the top riders. There, he secured five podium finishes and finished fourth in the championship, continuing his progress in a more demanding environment, but also one closer to a genuine title contender. In 2026, he took on even greater importance within the KTM project, as his victory in the Sprint class at the opening round of the Thai Grand Prix made him the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP World Championship. Acosta's only stumbling block was the RC16, which was not yet capable of winning races. With 13 MotoGP podium finishes, but still no victory, he holds the record for the most podium appearances without ever having reached the top step.
The next chapter is already written with his planned arrival at Ducati in 2027, alongside Marc Márquez. This transfer will almost certainly allow him to change his status and establish himself among the riders to beat, with the profile of a future contender for the world title.