Mat Oxley is ‘sure’ 22-race MotoGP rider was being distracted by potential 2026 team change at the Spanish Grand Prix

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Pedro Acosta managed his best result of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix by managing to coax his KTM to seventh place.

He’s yet to do anything outstanding in 2025, as he managed on multiple occasions during his rookie MotoGP campaign, but he is showing signs of getting to grips with KTM’s factory setup.

Acosta sits 10th in the standings and is now the highest placed of all four KTM-contracted riders after five Grands Prix.

He finished within 10 seconds of victory at the Grand Prix of Spain but still failed to beat teammate Brad Binder, who was upset with his own lack of pace.

Acosta has ‘more desire’ than any KTM rider, according to his colleague Maverick Vinales, who believes his youth is an advantage.

However, Acosta has been linked with Honda and could be inclined to make a move if he feels that he would be better off at a current rival in the future.

READ MORE: Pedro Acosta describes relationship with Valentino Rossi amid VR46 rumours, look away KTM

Mat Oxley thinks Honda rumours are ‘distracting’ Pedro Acosta after the Spanish Grand Prix

Acosta may panic at KTM after hearing that staff at the team’s factory were sent on leave, which also happens to be where their MotoGP operations are based.

It’s unknown whether it will have any effect on their development or day-to-day operations, but it’s a distraction they could do without.

Talking of which, Mat Oxley believes that rumours tying Acosta to a possible move to Honda in 2026 have distracted him already.

“He’s never taken a step back in his career and he’s always been moving forward. I think that’s something that will affect a young rider. Just not used to having your a— handed to you every weekend,” he said.

“He’s just got to get used to that and then fight back. Then there’s the Honda stuff going on which I’m sure is distracting him.”

READ MORE: Pedro Acosta still has some growing up to do after ill-judged message to KTM staff at Spanish Grand Prix

How close has Pedro Acosta been to Brad Binder at KTM’s factory team?

There have been three races so far this season, where both factory KTM riders have been able to run normal races.

Starting with Argentina, Acosta finished less than two seconds behind Binder and they secured a solid seventh and eighth.

The Grand Prix of Qatar was the only race, on merit, where Acosta has beaten Binder, doing so by just over three seconds.

Most recently in Jerez, there was just over one second between the two across the line. They have been very closely matched.

If they can find any extra pace, then their consistency appears to be there. It’s a shame that the financial situation is a distraction, otherwise, they may have been able to develop the RC16 to a better standard.