Pedro Acosta interrupts interviewer to make ‘firm’ statement about KTM MotoGP team

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Pedro Acosta didn’t seem overly pleased with KTM’s showing in MotoGP’s Sepang Test this week. There are early signs that they may have fallen back in the pecking order.

KTM traditionally take a cautious approach to winter testing, and may not have shown their true pace yet. But Davide Tardozzi has already called Fabio Quartararo the biggest threat to Ducati.

Acosta would have hoped to occupy that role, but Quartararo and Yamaha were the surprise package in Malaysia. They were consistently up there with the Desmosedici bikes over a single lap.

That could be bad news for KTM and Aprilia. Acosta carried a frustrated expression in the paddock, according to one observer, even if his answers were diplomatic.

There are still two days of testing in Buriram next week for the Austrian outfit to refine their RC16. The season doesn’t get underway until 2 March.

Acosta was outstanding in his rookie season, earning a first pole position and five podium finishes. He was just three points away from being ‘best of the rest’ behind Ducati.

Pedro Acosta insists he never had ‘any doubts’ about KTM MotoGP team

The overriding emotion in the KTM garage, when the team arrived in Sepang, was likely relief. The company has been beset by uncertainty over the winter.

KTM are in billions of pounds of debt. While the racing programme isn’t responsible, it could be cut at the end of 2025 or 2026.

According to GPOne, Acosta ‘abruptly interrupted’ an interviewer after the session ‘with a firm tone’. He wanted to express his unwavering confidence in KTM.

He acknowledges that they don’t yet understand where they’re losing out. But he says it’s unrealistic to expect perfection at this stage.

“I didn’t have any doubts,” he said. “The truth is that there are things that need to improve.

“I can’t give everything a ten. That doesn’t even happen in the best marriage in the world.

“It’s mostly a matter of figuring out what we’re missing. I’m personally doing really well.”

What Enea Bastianini noticed in Pedro Acosta’s KTM data

It’s worth noting that Acosta was still the sixth-fastest rider on the final day of testing following the time attack runs. He finished just over half a second adrift of pacesetter Alex Marquez.

The other KTM riders appeared to struggle more. Brad Binder was half a second down on Acosta, with Tech3 duo Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini towards the bottom of the leaderboard.

Bastianini consulted Acosta’s data in search of answers. He noted how much he ‘forces’ the bike on the front.

To emulate this (clearly quicker) approach, Bastianini says he may have to soften up the springs. He’s ‘never’ used this set-up, but joining a new team will require adaptation.