MotoGP | Pedrosa: “It's not impossible for Acosta to win in Jerez”

Dani Pedrosa's appearance this weekend as a Spanish Grand Prix wild card is one of the weekend's big boosts, so much so that expectations around KTM's current test rider are high, with some even believing he could be in contention for the victory despite having been “retired” since 2018.

“As for your expectations or those of the fans I can't speak. As for our approach to the weekend, it's the same as last year: try to have as much fun as possible, draw as many conclusions from what we feel and verify everything we have already tested in a race weekend which, if they go well on Monday, can be tested by the official riders. So these are things that could help, but they are identical to last year. As for external expectations, I can't talk about it.”

As a KTM test and development rider, and being an expert at the Jerez track, where he carried out a two-day test three weeks ago, Dani's presence could be of help to the factory riders.

“It's not the idea, you can help after testing by comparing the telemetry, but on the track, between the speed at which everything goes, the tyres, qualifying, the attempt to get through to Q2 and so on, there isn't much time to help,” he said.

Dani will have a different prototype at his disposal from that of the other brand riders, to test some things for 2025.

“We're doing as we did when we came here last year, trying different things on the bike that you can see with the naked eye and others that you can't. The interesting thing is that last year we did a good job and this gives us allowed us to take a step.”

There is also talk of the 2025 engine. “Our engine is not exactly the same as the one used by the other KTM riders, but very similar, there are small differences. I don't know if this engine will be able to be used by the others during the season. The plan is that if it goes well they will test it on Monday,” he added.

For Dani, an Acosta victory is not impossible

One of the highlights of the weekend will be seeing Dani, 38, and Pedro Acosta, 19, on the track together on the same bike.

“I'm curious, in the Sepang tests we tried to find a moment to ride together, but he had a problem with the bike and we weren't able to. I couldn't see him, he followed me for a couple of laps but then when I was about to following him had the problem. Let's see if we can meet here sometime. I hope I get some distance (laughs).”

Nobody rules out that Acosta could win this weekend, even Jorge Lorenzo has made this prediction. “I wouldn't know how to answer that question, but from the progression we're seeing it would be possible, it's not impossible,” he said.

As for the differences in Acosta's telemetry, Dani didn't want to say too much: “I haven't looked at his telemetry, but I hear he brakes very well,” he said.

Acosta's excellent performance contrasts with the difficulties of KTM leader Binder.

“I don't think Brad is struggling, I think he's satisfied with the bike, I don't know the details of why he didn't shine in some races, like in Portugal when he crashed in the Sprint, or in Austin when he didn't get into Q2. I don't know the reasons, but it doesn't matter. In some moments the circuit or the bike settings are not suitable, and in this sense Pedro is giving great motivation to all the riders and I think Brad will do well here.”