Fortunately, the Internet did not exist in the early 1990s or 2000s. Since Sunday, Pedro Acosta is the victim of harassment on social networks ; not because he crashed in the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, but because he made a joke on TV during the off-season. This situation is more alarming than you think, so some analysis is necessary.
Entertainment
Pedro Acosta has matured a lot this winter, and in personality too. Big American Mullet Cut, frank when talking about his conquests... his character thickens over time, which is a good thing for a discipline that bases part of its show on the character of its protagonists. During an interview on a Spanish talk show (The revolt on La 1), he pretended not to know Marc Marquez, saying "Who is that?" when the latter was mentioned. This "provocation" - we will come back to it - is common in the United States: pretending not to know a rival is a way of making him feel inferior.
And then the internet went wild. The Spanish and the French, in particular, two peoples who are extremely active and vehement on social networks – it is a proven fact – attacked him. “How dare he disrespect Marc Marquez?” "He who hasn't won anything in MotoGP yet?" I was able to see this for myself, because, as you know, I try to absorb what the spectators, who are responsible for the sustainability of the sport, say. And I must admit that I was quite shocked by some of the reactions.
It was a joke. It was all humor.. The revolt is a comedy show, which won the Ondas 2024 Best Entertainment Program Award. David Broncano, the host who asked Pedro Acosta the question, is a comedian. Acosta played along with the show, making a simple joke to provoke the audience – a joke that was also supported by an orchestra, as is the case in some talks Americans. It saddens me that so many people miss the point. Besides, if you take away the joke, it didn't make any sense, and I'll prove it to you.
Not only does he know him, he respects him.
Pedro Acosta would never have disrespected Marc Marquez like that. First, the two have never directly faced each other on the track for a good position. There is no precedent, no barbs thrown by the media during the entire 2024 season. Then I found you an interview with Acosta from 2021, where he praised Marc Marquez. Asked what he would take from the greatest motorcycling champions of all time, here is what he answered: "I would take 90% of Marc Marquez […] When he wins, he is superior. Marc is different from the rest, we already saw him in 125cc. Studying him helps me improve my riding". If that's not respect, I don't know what is!
Heartbreak for @37_pedroacosta 💔 But it's not over yet for the Spaniard! #ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/EaprfoGAV3
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 2, 2025
Why a joke?
I realize it's quite sad to have to explain a joke he was allowed to make – Marc Marquez remains a human being like you and me –, but I will try to explain why he did it. In 2023, then in Moto2, Pedro Acosta had given a very interesting interview for the media MotoGP.com. He said that the premier category lacked rivalry., and that this is exactly what people were expecting. That he also found it a shame that everyone was "buddies", arm in arm on the podiums! It is therefore not surprising that once a KTM factory rider, he lets himself go to the little game of provocations, and this is undoubtedly the reason why he has given himself more character since this winter.
Influenced by Kevin Schwantz, Casey Stoner – and, like all of them, even if they don't want to admit it, Valentino Rossi –, Acosta knows that personality is the key to legend. All the talent in the world is not memorable if the person who carries it is not worthy of interest in the eyes of history. I, who for years, tirelessly tells you that MotoGP lacks rivalry and spice, don't hide my pleasure, because that's how the history of motorsports was written. I love what Pedro Acosta did, and I would like everyone to learn to play with the media like that.
No F1
Following my article on Marc Marquez published on Monday, many agreed with me regarding the paragraph on pressure; I'll give you the link here if you missed it.. In it, I argued that the difference between MotoGP and F1 lay in the simplicity of the former, but the character of the drivers is just as important to preserve this uniqueness! In F1, the spectacle is bland, only brightened by Max Verstappen and his outspokenness. But before he really goes head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, how long did it take before we had a real old-school “spectacle driver,” the kind who doesn’t shy away from the camera? And in MotoGP, since Rossi retired, how many have we had? Isn't this why Pecco Bagnaia doesn't have so many fans?, while he is a magnificent double world champion?
Acosta embodies the hope of finding a driver with cheekiness, this well-placed insolence Lorenzo-style whose annoyance is proportional to the success of the driver. The worst part is that Marc Marquez fans who came across Acosta idolize a driver who, himself, was not afraid to impose himself against Valentino Rossi with a certain arrogance! I've said before that I have a hard time with bigotry, but thankfully I know that the silent majority does not validate this phenomenon, no matter who they support.
I'm curious to know what you think about these questions and this article, then, tell me in comments.
Cover photo: KTM