‘Perfect’ Pedro Acosta stuns Neil Hodgson at ‘scary’ point during Thai Grand Prix Sprint

Add as preferred source on Google

Ducati picked up where the Bologna Bullets left off by dominating the first Sprint Race of 2025 at the Thai Grand Prix, but new KTM star Pedro Acosta stunned Neil Hodgson.

Marc Marquez laid down an early marker following his step up to Ducati from Gresini, as the six-time MotoGP champion won the Sprint Race at the Thai Grand Prix ahead of his younger brother Alex. Factory rider Francesco Bagnaia rounded out the podium places in third place.

Rookie star Ai Ogura was the highest-placed non-Ducati rider as the Trackhouse Racing ace came home in P4 with his Aprilia RS-GP25 at Buriram, followed by VR46’s Franco Morbidelli. Acosta was the best KTM rider in the Thai Sprint Race, but only took sixth place on his RC16.

Pedro Acosta stuns Neil Hodgson with ‘perfect’ pass on Brad Binder in the Thai Sprint Race

Acosta took the chequered flag over 11 seconds from Marquez, having had to regain places through the Sprint Race at the 2025 Thai Grand Prix. The KTM rider was the Austrian brand’s best rider in qualifying with P7, but slipped to 10th place on the opening lap around Buriram.

But it did not take the 20-year-old long to start to make some progress, with passes on Raul Fernandez and his KTM teammate Brad Binder. The Spaniard’s move on his partner on Lap 3 of 13 especially stunned Hodgson after pulling a pass at a ‘scary’ point of the Buriram circuit.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend

Acosta picked his new factory KTM RC16 up early out of the Turn 3 hairpin to get the run on Binder for T4, before slotting his machine down the South African’s inside to move up to P8. Hodgson could not believe the 2021 Moto3 and 2023 Moto2 champion dared a dive into T4.

“Surely not here?,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports 2 (01/03, 08:07). “You tip into there, it’s a blind crest [and] it takes the weight off the tyres, which makes it quite a scary corner. And you’re tipping in at around 130mph. There wasn’t a lot of room but Acosta did it perfect.”

Pedro Acosta laid down an early marker at KTM by overtaking Brad Binder at Buriram

Acosta laid down an early marker in the KTM Factory Racing garage, having not only finished in front of Binder but also pulling an impressive pass on the 29-year-old in his first race since stepping up from Tech3. Binder could only end the Sprint in P8 as Acosta came home in P6.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife

KTM also saw Acosta open a three-second gap to Binder after passing the two-time premier class Grand Prix winner with a bold dive at T4. It is almost the best possible start that Acosta could have hoped for on his factory debut and nearly the worst that Binder will have feared.

Fighting the Ducatis for glory was always unlikely given Acosta reluctantly admitted KTM still have a chatter issue after pre-season testing. So, being the best KTM rider in qualifying and the race, whilst passing his new teammate, was the best that Acosta could have hoped for.