Just after the Japanese MotoGP Grand Prix, Pedro Acosta spoke at length. One of these statements was very true; according to him, it was “his best weekend, but at the same time, his worst”. It’s a good idea, like each of his press releases. It is high time to look back on his effort, because he deserved it. Rather “the worst” or “the best”?
There is no doubt
I honestly think the question doesn’t even arise.
Pedro Acosta has just had his best weekend in MotoGP, by quite a distance. Without finishing a single race, it’s strong. For what ? Here we go for a subjective but provided explanation.
First, Pedro Acosta took the pole position. I have the impression that this information – which arrived very early in our ears due to the time difference – went a little unnoticed, but it is a real mark of progress. It was his first in MotoGP, and the first for a rookie since Marco Bezzecchi at the 2022 Thai Grand Prix. He becomes the third youngest pole-sitter, and that is significant. Certainly, it was somewhat circumstantial, because favorites made mistakes (Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin), not even to mention the cancellation of Marc Marquez’s round. But still, we had to go find her. This feat alone puts his Japanese GP above many others this year, you will agree.
Superstar in the making. Photo : Michelin Motorsport
Second, the Sprint. Endowed with a spectacular but fine, poetic but effective style, Pedro Acosta took off, deposing the best riders in the world and their merciless Ducati. Certainly, his race ended in the gravel trap while he was in the lead, but in today’s MotoGP, who can throw stones at him? From now on, a race is just a series of qualifying laps. Drivers push, 100% of the time. This happened to many other thieves before him, including Pecco Bagnaia a few races ago and Jorge Martin as recently as a week and a half ago! He was in the lead, and that’s almost all that counts.
Third, the Sunday run. Again, he seemed threatening, able to tickle Pecco Bagnaia. He fell in the last corner, a rather strange place to make such a mistake, in fact, but we cannot take away his commitment, his determination. He wanted to avenge his mistake from the day before, but without holding back.
A rookie who acts like a rookie
Okay, it’s falling a lot this season. It’s factual. He made mistakes during the two Grands Prix at Misano, but is faster than ever. We must constantly keep this in mind: if he has to fall to find his limits and progress, to compete with the best drivers, to accumulate experience, it is now. If the KTM performs well next year, I don’t see why we couldn’t consider it one of the favorites for the title. So he will have plenty of time to blame himself.
It’s better to fall by going too fast, than to be too slow and finish every race. We learn more easily to slow down than to transcend ourselves. He’s a rookie, that’s exactly what he’s there for. It’s a sort of trial period, he’s not playing for anything, not even the rookie of the year title which he just won after the Japanese Grand Prix. I find it hard to imagine how anyone can blame him for doing what he does, when it is because he does that that he is where he is.
Acosta bigger than KTM?
That’s not all. Pedro Acosta, only 20 years old, showed who is the leader at KTM, even though he is not yet in the official team. A year later, I still don’t understand why the Austrian management didn’t directly pair him with Brad Binder in the factory team.
No one worried Ducati as much as him in the second part of the season. The Borgo Panigale firm walks on water, and neither Aprilia nor KTM can stop it. Only Pedro Acosta is putting up resistance. I will go even further: Brad Binder has never managed to make Dall’Igna sweat like Acosta during the Sprint all this season.
Pedro Acosta is well surrounded at Tech3, that’s for sure. But his place is in a factory team, and has been since he first got on a motorcycle. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
In terms of character, he asserts himself day by day. This is easily remarkable when you read his comments on the title race, but also on KTM, his employer. In Japan, he said:
« Ducatis are not unwatchable. We are late but we are moving forward […] better things will come”. Here are the wise words of a great one, who gives direction, who motivates, who unites. Not very talkative, could Brad Binder instill such a state of mind?
Conclusion
Pedro Acosta was exceptional at Motegi, accounting be damned. Author of his first pole position, he was the only one to tickle Ducati (which made top 7 in Sprint and top 5 in GP), and progressed again and again. His speeches are more and more adult, he is more and more tall. Let it fall, this season is there for that. I have no doubt that he is smart enough to hold himself together if he is caught in a title race next year.
I’m curious what you thought of his weekend. Tell me in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
At the top, in his place. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Photo : Michelin Motorsport
