Even before his first MotoGP race, Pedro Acosta is already impressing the paddock. The only rookie of the 2024 season placed in the top eight on every day of the Sepang test, benefiting from the experience gained during the three-day Shakedown the previous week. But his ability to quickly get into a rhythm made a big impression. For KTM, it was Acosta's ease of handling that amazed.
“He drives incredibly well,” explained Brad Binder, who was able to analyze the Tech3 representative's driving. “When you look at the data, under braking he is incredibly smooth, clean, he stops the bike well, his handling is super clean. He is fast. We all know that, he is very talented, he works a lot and rides well, so he will definitely do well in MotoGP”.
The same goes for Francesco Guidotti. “I think he surprised everyone,” said the team manager of the KTM factory team. “I don't think there is anyone who wasn't surprised by the speed he showed and also, for those who were alongside him, by the maturity he showed in his comments. I'm very happy that he's part of the family!”
Acosta has won three titles in the last four years, between Rookies Cup, Moto3 and Moto2. So there was no doubt about her speed, and her ability to find it quickly on a MotoGP wasn't too shocking. But above all it was the ease with which the young Spaniard adapted to the new environment and everything around him that amazed Pit Beirer, the director of KTM Motorsport.
“I saw what you all saw,” summed up the former pilot. “He did fantastic things from the moment he arrived. He improved steadily over the six days, until finally he set a time two tenths off the pole position he achieved at the end of last year. So the level at which he arrives in this category it is very, very high.”
The approach of Pedro Acosta impresses that KTM
“Everyone was talking about him, about all the records he broke in other classes and how young he is, but then it's always interesting to see what really happens when you move from Moto2 to MotoGP. Things can go better than expected, but it can also be very difficult, yet he is simply incredible, he is good.”
“There are natural things about this guy that are incredible. Even when you go into the wind tunnel: normally you have to teach the rider what to do and what not to do; he gets on the bike and does everything perfectly, even in the wind tunnel. His lap times were impressive, but also the way he spoke to the engineers.”
“The way he can say what he needs and how he wants his bike to be set up is perhaps as valuable as his speed for his future in this sport. For all of us it was perhaps even crazier than his raw speed , which we knew would be there.”
Guidotti was also impressed by the speed with which Acosta took measurements of his bike: “Pedro surprised me a lot, not only for his performance but also for his technical comments. From the way he explained what he thought, you would have said that he had known this bike for three or four years, even though it was the first time on this circuit with this bike. I was really pleasantly surprised by his performance, which everyone can see, and above all by his attitude and his approach in the technical comments.”
Pedro Acosta's first performances on his KTM impressed not only his teammates. Marc Marquez was won over by his compatriot's approach and foresees a great future for him, starting this year. “He will be very fast this season,” said the new Gresini Racing driver. “From Quartararo onwards, the riders who arrive in MotoGP are very fast. Pecco (Bagnaia) was leading in the first pre-season tests and Pedro was very fast in those days.”
Pedro Acosta
“I don't know how many times he's fallen but that's how you learn. He attacks and that's good, it's the right mentality, I always defend this mentality. And he's fast. He'll be a great talent, maybe he'll take a little longer or a little less, but sooner or later he will fight for a championship.”
A new hierarchy at KTM?
Pedro Acosta's rapid emergence could upset the balance of power between KTM's four riders. Brad Binder, the best representative of the Austrian company for the last three seasons, insists that this internal competition does not worry him more than the one with other drivers. “Honestly, it doesn't change my life much,” the South African said. “I'm doing my best, there are 21 other guys who are also very fast! It's just like that.”
In high places, the prospect of Acosta performing well is seen more as a luxury problem, but Beirer prefers not to imagine his protégé already a protagonist, seeing it as harmful pressure even before his first race.
“If Brad is on the podium and Pedro is faster, I think we will be able to handle the situation,” joked the manager. “In any case, I don't think we should put too much pressure on this guy, because he is still young and has just arrived in this category. I am absolutely certain that he will help us progress, as far as the four riders are concerned. And not because he will put pressure on someone”.
“If he's fast, I think all the riders will be able to look at his data, just as Pedro will look at Brad's data. There's nothing better for us than good competition between our four riders and them pushing each other , so I really hope this becomes our main issue.”
With Lena Buffa
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