In the spotlight, Pedro Acosta established himself – as if anyone still needed convincing – as a beacon of light for KTM. The Sepang test turned into a veritable obstacle course for the Spaniard, who nevertheless managed to extract himself from the storm of problems encountered on the second day to finish in seventh position, combining art and style as this anecdote shows.
The Sepang trials have once again highlighted the talent of Peter AcostaThe young Spaniard has established himself as the spearhead of KTM, demonstrating once again his qualities as a pilot and leader.
KTM approached these Sepang tests with the aim of turning the page after a turbulent winter. With the arrival ofEnea Bastianini et Maverick Vinales on the RC16, the Austrian manufacturer is also banking on its in-house drivers, Brad Binder et Pedro Acosta, to relaunch its ambitions. And that's good Acosta who established himself as the most successful driver in the camp KTM during these tests, displaying competitive times and a strong mentality.
What sets Acosta, beyond his pure talent, it is his ability to communicate and motivate one's teamThe second day of testing was particularly chaotic for him: a fall from its first round, followed by technical problems with his motorbike and even a recalcitrant box door.
Faced with these disappointments, Acosta chose to keep smiling and take things philosophically. As soon as I got out, I fell from the first lap in turn 5 because I was going a little bit slow. I tried to say to myself: ok, let's go back to the pits and fix the bike. But then, as soon as I got back on the track, they called me back to the pits and when it was time to go out again, the box door no longer opened…at that point I said: “Guys, life is giving us a signal, let’s go eat and we’ll think about it this afternoon with more force” " he told DAZN Espana with humor.
A difficult start for KTM but an iron mentality from Pedro Acosta
This positive attitude and his natural leadership have actually allowed Acosta to bounce back at the end of the day, finishing seventh in the standings, the best result among the drivers KTM. A performance which confirms his status as a leading driver for the Austrian manufacturer.
The third day, Peter Acosta confirmed his excellent form by setting the sixth fastest time overall with a time of 1'57"1 during his time attack. His Sprint simulation was also convincing, with a pace of 1'58", although the last two laps were slightly less good. These results show thatAcosta is already comfortable with the RC16 and ready to fight for top positions in 2025.
In comparison, other drivers KTM had a harder time competing. Brad Binder finished 13th, half a second behindAcosta, While Maverick Vinales et Enea Bastianini took 16th and 18th place respectively, more than seven tenths and almost a second behind the leader.
With these tests, Peter Acosta not only confirmed his talent, but also his leadership role within the team KTM. His positive attitude, ability to bounce back from difficulties and consistent performances make him a key driver for the Austrian manufacturer. While KTM seeks to compete with the reference Ducati, Acosta appears to be the right man to lead this battle.
The next tests at Buriram, in Thailand, will be an opportunity for Acosta et KTM to refine their settings and confirm their potential. One thing is certain: with a driver like Acosta, KTM has all the cards in hand to shine in 2025.
MotoGP, Sepang J3 Test, Final: times
