Pedro Acosta admits he still can’t outpace one rider who retired before his MotoGP debut

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This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will see the first wildcard appearance of the 2025 MotoGP season. Aleix Espargaro makes his debut for Honda after retiring from full-time racing at the end of last year.

Four of the five manufacturers have access to wildcards for 2025 under the concessions system. Runaway world champions Ducati are the only exception.

Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM haven’t yet eaten into their allocation, though. Augusto Fernandez will take part in his third straight race for Pramac as Miguel Oliveira’s absence continues.

And Lorenzo Savadori is back in at Aprilia with Jorge Martin likely facing multiple months due to the serious injuries he sustained in Qatar. Savadori had already deputised at the first three rounds.

There’s no such instability at KTM, but they have declined the wildcard opportunity at the start of the European season. The first official in-season test comes on Monday.

Pedro Acosta says Pol Espargaro is still just as fast as KTM riders when he tests RC16

Speaking to Marca ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, franchise rider Pedro Acosta praised the contribution of KTM’s test riders. Pit Beirer has Dani Pedrosa, Pol Espargaro and Jonas Folger at his disposal.

Acosta is a big admirer of Pedrosa, who’s the most decorated rider never to win a MotoGP title (31 victories).

And he also revealed that Espargaro, who retired before Acosta made his premier-class debut, can still keep up with KTM’s MotoGP roster. The 33-year-old, who finished on the podium eight times in the series, wildcarded in Italy, Austria and San Marino last year.

“I would have liked to start the year in better condition, of course, but we have a man called Dani Pedrosa, who made Honda great, in my way of seeing racing,” Acosta said.

“Pol, who was an active rider two years ago, knows what the current MotoGP situation is like, with the wings, and every time he gets on the bike he goes as fast as us, he’s in the running for a top five and last year he was on the podium in the Sprint.

“I think the work they’re doing is very useful, but the factory also needs to make more precise adjustments, perhaps.”

How KTM’s test riders feel about wildcard decision before Spanish Grand Prix

According to The Race, KTM’s decision not to run either Pedrosa or Espargaro in Jerez has caused surprise up and down the pitlane. This comes after Maverick Vinales thought he’d delivered a breakthrough result last time out in Qatar, only for a 16-second penalty to relegate him from second to 14th.

The KTM test team are also shocked, and they don’t expect to be called upon for the remainder of the year. Some may feel that their vast experience isn’t being properly utilised.

Acosta left KTM bemused with his feedback after Qatar, so they could perhaps use additional development guidance from their Spanish reserves. It’s unclear whether the team are having to limit expenses amid the company’s wider financial crisis.

While working as a pundit for DAZN, Espargaro has been advising Acosta. He’s tried to calm down the restless youngster and assure him that improvements will come.