However, everything started excellently for Pedro Acosta, this Saturday on the Motegi circuit. The Spaniard, still impressive on his KTM with a very atypical driving style, set the second time in Q2… before finally recovering pole position, the first of his career, following the cancellation of Marc’s time Mark for exceeding track limits! At 20 years and 133 days old, the Tech3 GasGas rider became the third youngest pole-sitter in MotoGP history, behind Fabio Quartararo and… Marc Marquez, in fact.
“It’s really nice, it’s been a long time since I saw No. 1 in front of my bike! We have to be satisfied because we have seen that for four or five races, we have been able to put everything together better and we are more efficient each time.underlined the poleman of the day in the parc ferme. I’m happy because we’re getting closer to the goal we’re aiming for. You have to be happy and calm for this afternoon. »
Comfortable on the Motegi track, Pedro Acosta did not intend to stop there and was aiming for another first: that of a Sprint victory in MotoGP. And despite a mixed start, with two places lost in the first turns, the Mazarrón shark quickly regained the lead of the race and was heading towards this first success in the premier category… Unfortunately, with four laps to go, and while he was making a big effort to widen the gap in the lead, the Spaniard fell, losing the front of his KTM.
An abandonment with a very bitter taste, since until now, Pedro Acosta had his best Saturday in MotoGP, he who only has 15 Grands Prix in his legs in the premier category, let us remember. Devastated upon returning to his garage, the young rookie immediately went to apologize to his team.
“We were very close to this first victory today, and that’s what makes the situation very difficult to accept. I made a mistake and I only have myself to blame, so all I have to do is keep my head down and focus on tomorrowhe confided after the race. We were very competitive throughout the weekend, our race starts are getting better and better and we are getting closer to the leading drivers weekend after weekend. For these reasons, we need to be happy with the laps we led today, and head into tomorrow’s race knowing we can do it again. »
Pedro Acosta will obviously have an opportunity to make up for it on Sunday, during the Grand Prix, and aim for a first victory in MotoGP. He could then become, if successful at Motegi, the second youngest Grand Prix winner… but he will first have to complete the 45 minutes of the race and stay on his bike for 24 laps!
READ ALSO > Japan – Sprint: Bagnaia wins and takes big points from Martin
