MotoGP | Marquez: “Acosta surprised for KTM? No, they sensed it.”

It is not strange that many see similarities between Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta. Both followed the same path in the lower classes, where they won two titles in three years, before moving to MotoGP and shaking up every balance that had existed until their arrival.

These are different times and the level of the premier class of the championship is higher than what the Catalan found, who managed to obtain the most complicated result and become world champion on his debut in 2013. Although for Acosta it is even more difficult, no one dares to automatically discard him, especially after the start to the championship he has put in place. The driver from Murcia, at just 19 years old, reached the podium in Portimao and Austin, the last two races held this year.

If he didn't succeed at the first round of 2024 in Qatar, it was due to a combination of factors that occurred in the final laps on Sunday: the high degradation of the tires, the result of his aggressiveness, and the pain in his forearm as a consequence of the placement of the wrong rear height device. Replaced the piece, and with the rookie more adapted to the new ecosystem and its GasGas, most rivals think that the next natural goal, victory, will come very soon.

At the fourth grand prix of the season, scheduled for this weekend in Jerez, Acosta presents himself as fourth in the general classification, with only two points less than Maverick Vinales, third, and five points behind second, Enea Bastianini. Furthermore, #31 is the best placed among the members of the Pierer Mobility group, formed by GasGas and KTM, among others. Behind him are Brad Binder, sixth, five points behind rookieand Jack Miller, tenth and much further behind with 22 points less than the Spaniard.

The most widespread feeling in the paddock is that Acosta has shaken up the championship, in particular the KTM group. However, there are people, like Marquez, who believe that the young man's talent did not take anyone by surprise because he was taken for granted.

“Pedro remembers those big names who arrived in MotoGP at the time. Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo or Casey Stoner. Those who were already fighting for poles, podiums and victories in the first or second race. This year he will get podiums, like the ones he has already achieved, and also successes. And why not, fight for the world championship like the others have done,” said Marquez a few days ago in a chat with Motorsport.com. For the Catalan, Acosta's talent could already be understood when he started competing in the world championship. Being under KTM's wing at all times ensured that the top management of the Austrian manufacturer knew exactly what he was capable of in his first year in MotoGP.

“I don't think Pedro surprised the KTM group. There they understood perfectly what they had. I think they expected it. Or at least, I expected it. When you analyze the things he did in Moto3 and Moto2, you know that once he gets to MotoGP he will be fast. It's his natural process,” underlined Marquez, who is eighth in the standings, 16 points behind Acosta.