Phillip Island Circuit, famous for hosting the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix, is one of the most picturesque circuits in the country, rivaling some of the most renowned venues in the world.
Pédro Acosta, driver of the KTM team, had the opportunity to ride there four times. This year, he experienced driving a MotoGP motorcycle for the first time on this 4.4 km coastal track.
So, what is his opinion on this circuit?
“It’s scary,” Acosta replied when asked for his thoughts at the KTM Summer Grill. “Phillip Island is the most difficult track of the entire season. »
“It's hard to understand how fast we can go, even being inside. When you arrive at turn 1, just shift into gear and accelerate hard, I don't know… 280 km/h. »
“It’s definitely the most beautiful circuit of the season because you drive on the main straight and you see the whole sea… but then the nightmare begins as you approach turns 1, 2 and 3.”
“It’s also quite complicated with the wind. But it really is the prettiest circuit of the whole season. »
Riding with the Tech3 team, under the GasGas brand, Acosta crashed during Saturday's sprint race and was unable to participate in Sunday's Grand Prix due to injury.
He finished his first season in the premier class as the best rookie, placing sixth in the drivers' championship. This included six podiums on the KTM RC16, despite formidable competition from the Ducati Desmosedici fleet.
Acosta will join the official KTM team in 2025 alongside Brad Binder, intending to learn many lessons from his first year in MotoGP.
“At the end of the day, as you say, there were a lot of expectations, but I also had my own expectations,” Acosta said. “It is true that we were often very close [de la victoire]but for one reason or another we couldn't finalize the work. »
“It is true that in general we made many mistakes, whether on my part or because of some internal things, perhaps due to lack of experience. »
“It was a season where I learned a lot, but also the one where I fell the most. »
“I'm coming out of this season like a student leaving university, with plenty of grades for next season to try not to fall again. »
