After we took a look at the winners and losers of MotoGP yesterday, we’re taking a closer look at Pedro Acosta. The rookie from the GasGas Tech3 team has been completely convincing in the first seven races of the season. He has no problem keeping his teammate Augusto Fernandez under control and even the KTM factory riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller are now just behind him.
The picture in the drivers’ standings is clear after the Italian Grand Prix. Acosta is the best-placed Pierer Mobility rider in fifth place. Brad Binder is only seventh and is 16 points behind the 19-year-old Spaniard. Nevertheless, the Moto2 World Champion draws a mixed conclusion after the first third of the season and continues to mourn missed opportunities to win.
Pedro Acosta cautious: Season could have gone better
“It wasn’t a disaster,” said Acosta during the test rides in Mugello last week when asked how he assessed his MotoGP debut. “It could have been better, but it could also have been much worse. But that’s just how it is.” The GasGas rider is particularly disappointed by the failures in France and Catalonia. There he crashed in the Grand Prix when he was in a very promising position.
“We lost two really good opportunities in Le Mans and Barcelona. But at least it’s part of the learning process. We have a lot more clarity now after the first seven races, we still have a lot of things to test and things to think about. That’s pretty good, I think,” said Acosta happily.
There is now a three-week break before the next race of the season in Assen, as the Kazakhstan Grand Prix had to be postponed. Acosta will use this break to continue to prepare as best as possible for the premier class. The lessons he has learned from the first races will help him. “I’ve learned a lot, a lot. How to ride a MotoGP bike and that the guys here are really damn fast,” grinned the fifth-placed rider in the World Championship. “And I’ve learned that sometimes you can achieve more if you take it easy.”
During the break, special attention is now being paid to physical training. “The MotoGP bikes are pretty difficult to ride, it’s very physically demanding. It’s particularly hard here in Mugello and Austin, but in the end, all the tracks are very demanding in terms of the movements on the bike and all the things you have to concentrate on when riding.”
Acosta convinced KTM bosses: in the factory team from 2025
Since the Grand Prix in Tuscany, the rookie can now start the rest of the season with peace of mind: his MotoGP future has already been decided. Acosta will be part of the KTM factory team in 2025 and beyond, taking over Jack Miller’s place for the new season. This step is not surprising. Not only because Acosta is showing such strong performances, but also because Miller’s results in the 2024 season are not satisfactory.
In Mugello, however, he showed his understanding for the KTM bosses’ decision to promote Acosta. “It’s a logical decision. He’s a great talent. Of course I’m disappointed because my time in the factory team is coming to an end, but that’s just the way it is,” explained Miller. What will happen next for the 29-year-old in MotoGP is currently unclear. “I’m unemployed,” grinned Miller. “We’ll see. We’re of course in talks with KTM, after all there’s another motorcycle. As I said, I want to stay with KTM. I still have a lot to give for this project,” said Miller, referring to the possibility of a place in the GasGas-branded KTM customer team. There are still two free places there at this time. However, one of these places will probably go to Enea Bastianini.