Pablo Nieto delivers VR46 team’s ‘clear’ Pedro Acosta verdict after MotoGP testing

Add as preferred source on Google

Pedro Acosta has a fantastic opportunity to showcase his talents in 2025 after graduating to KTM’s factory team alongside Brad Binder.

The young Spaniard is contracted to KTM until the end of the 2026 season, just before MotoGP undergoes a significant regulation change.

Acosta scored more podiums than any other non-Ducati rider in his rookie campaign with the satellite Tech3 team, putting teams on high alert regarding his abilities.

The 19-year-old’s future could be in disarray, though. KTM’s financial crisis saw them take an ‘unprecedented’ step in Buriram by launching a media blackout.

KTM insiders are ‘convinced’ the team’s 2025 MotoGP season will be unaffected by their woes, but there may be other implications to arise from their issues.

Things may get even worse for them before they start to improve. Acosta shared a worrying verdict ahead of the 2025 season opener and is at a loss to explain their lack of pace in testing. Other teams may start to field calls to Acosta regarding his future.

Pablo Nieto says VR46 ‘are not’ ready to sign a talent like Pedro Acosta

VR46 are entering their fourth season in 2025 after suffering a bit of a down year last season, where they managed four fewer podiums than the year before.

They also lost race-winning rider Marco Bezzecchi to Aprilia and have signed Franco Morbidelli to replace him.

Looking to the future, signing someone like Acosta would be a major statement for them. Fabio Di Giannantonio is on the GP25 bike too, so they have the best machinery in the sport at their disposal.

READ MORE: Pablo Nieto reveals what Valentino Rossi has asked VR46 team to do ahead of 2025 MotoGP season

However, team manager Fabio Nieto has warned that they are not ready to sign a name like Acosta yet if he becomes available.

“Obviously, Alonso – the one from Moto3 who is arriving,” he said. “Also, the other Alonso and Acosta obviously are riders that however you speak, obviously are interesting.

“This is clear, but as I think in my opinion, we are not [at] that moment there [yet].”

What Valentino Rossi is doing to persuade Pedro Acosta to join VR46

While Valentino Rossi turned his MotoGP focus from his own racing career to his team back in 2021, it doesn’t mean that he wants success any less.

The seven-time champion’s team have won a championship during their existence, leading Francesco Bagnaia to the Moto2 crown in 2018.

READ MORE: Marco Bezzecchi admits when he knew his final season with VR46 would be ‘very difficult’

With the interesting complexion of the MotoGP rider market, if he wants to compete from the start of the 2027 regulations, he might be interested in making further changes.

Rossi has been talking to Acosta to persuade a VR46 move and knows that signing him to the team early could set them up for long-term success.

Very rarely do riders of his calibre hit the free market, and if he becomes available, expect to see a big push for his services. He does have the Ducati bike to offer, after all.