Pedro Acosta bemoans the ‘not logical’ problem that ‘stops me’ as MotoGP star demands KTM investigation

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Pedro Acosta has not enjoyed the start the Spaniard would have wanted racing with the factory KTM team having scored just 16 points ahead of the Grand Prix of Qatar.

The 20-year-old arrived in Lusail for this weekend’s race sat 16th in the riders’ championship as the third-best KTM pilot. Works teammate Brad Binder leads the KTM stable on 19 points, while Tech3 star Enea Bastianini also has 16 points yet beats Acosta with a higher race finish.

Acosta took his best Grand Prix result since replacing Jack Miller at KTM to date in Argentina with P8, where he also finished the Sprint in P9. But his only other points came in the Sprint Races in Thailand (P6) and America (P7), having crashed out in Austin after qualifying fourth.

Bastianini scored his best result aboard the KTM RC16 after joining Tech3 this season at the Grand Prix of the Americas with P7. It even matched Binder’s P7 in the Argentina Grand Prix as the top result by a KTM rider. Maverick Vinales sealed his best for Tech3 at Termas in P12.

Pedro Acosta wants KTM to check their bike as his braking problems are ‘not logical’

Such was his frustration after crashing from eighth place on Lap 8 of 19 at COTA that Acosta called his Americas GP ‘evil’. The Mazarron native will now look to find improvements at this week’s Qatar Grand Prix, and likely show why Acosta believes he is MotoGP’s best overtaker.

But Acosta arrived in Lusail in a downbeat mood, ruing the problems KTM are still managing with the RC16 this season. The 2021 Moto3 and 2023 Moto2 champion believes KTM have a major issue as the front end of their bike does not give Acosta confidence on a regular basis.

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

While rear vibrations have also been a problem, it is the front end of the RC16 that Acosta is most frustrated with ahead of the Qatar GP. Acosta even demands that KTM investigates his concerns as the problems he has faced trying to brake on the RC16 this year are ‘not logical’.

“The problem in Austin was no longer that the front end doesn’t inspire confidence and you ride around a problem, but that it appears and disappears as it pleases,” Acosta bemoaned, via quotes by Motorsport.com.

“We need to understand if any of the things we’ve touched are causing this. It not only makes it difficult to be fast in a race but also to be consistent. Because when you brake at the same point in a corner and don’t expect what’s coming, things get complicated

“We have vibrations, but that’s not what stops me,” the KTM rider added. “We have braking problems. Last year, I could overtake while braking without any problems. People talk about tyre pressures [and] temperature [but] it’s not logical what’s happening to us.”

KTM need to solve Pedro Acosta’s bike problems soon or risk him switching teams

KTM likely need to solve Acosta’s problems with the RC16 quickly or risk seeing the Spaniard jump off their bike and join a rival MotoGP team. VR46 have a contract ready to offer Acosta should he try to get out of KTM, where the two-time world champion is tied down for 2026.

VR46 are not the only interested party, either, as Honda are sniffing around with it reported that Acosta can break out of his KTM contract for €5m (£4.5m). If his frustrations with their bike continue to mount, that sum could become increasingly appealing for a rival to pay up.