Pedro Acosta thinks it is ‘clear’ KTM cannot rely on what Maverick Vinales has just said about their MotoGP bike

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KTM Factory Racing have started the 2025 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix weekend well, with Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder ending the first practice session in the top three.

Only a late lap from Aprilia ace Marco Bezzecchi at his Noale factory’s home race would stop Acosta from topping the opening timesheet. Both riders recorded 1:46.119 lap times around Mugello on Friday morning, but Bezzecchi would end the 45-minute session up in first place.

Acosta set his time first to knock Marc Marquez off the top spot, in a rare session where not one Ducati rider would finish the session in the top three. Binder also shuffled his KTM RC16 above the 2025 championship leader’s 1:46.293 with a 1:46.252 during the closing minutes.

Pedro Acosta urges KTM not to rely on the RC16 in its current form, despite Maverick Vinales’ claims

But while KTM have started strongly at the Italian GP and their RC16’s great top speed suits Mugello, with Binder setting the fastest maximum speed in FP1 at 362.4km/h (225mph) on Friday, Acosta does not believe the Austrian factory have enough to win in the Tuscan hills.

Acosta is desperate for KTM to upgrade the RC16, with the 21-year-old still to get a podium finish in the 2025 MotoGP season since stepping up from their satellite team Tech3. He has so far only scored 76 points, and Acosta’s best results are also P4 at Le Mans and at Aragon.

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

The Spaniard even believes it is ‘clear’ that KTM cannot rely on what they have now, despite Tech3 star Maverick Vinales believing the Austrian squad’s riders need to adapt to what the RC16 currently offers. Acosta and Vinales, with his 48 points, are KTM’s lead riders this year.

Acosta said in response to Vinales’ suggestion, via quotes by GPOne: “We have to make the most out of the package we have, but the most we have isn’t enough to win. That’s clear.”

KTM’s lack of grip with their 2025 MotoGP bike is Acosta’s biggest gripe, given he could not overtake Ducati ace Francesco Bagnaia during the Aragon Grand Prix last time out. Bagnaia beat Acosta for a podium finish at Aragon after building a 5.628s buffer following their fight.

Acosta added: “The top speed helps, but we were also fast at Aragon, and I wasn’t able to overtake Pecco. We need to improve in grip, which is our weak point at the moment.”

Pedro Acosta has begged KTM to develop their 2025 MotoGP bike since he joined the team

Acosta has pleaded with KTM for help throughout the 2025 season, as the Mazarron native is far from satisfied with the performance of their RC16 so far. He scored five podiums in 19 Grands Prix as a rookie with Tech3 last term, but KTM have not developed the bike enough.

His lack of feel with the front tyre has been one of his biggest problems, given it is a key part of the 2021 Moto3 and 2023 Moto2 champion’s style. Acosta bemoaned struggling with the front tyre in the Aragon Sprint, which he finished in fifth as the best non-Ducati bike, as well.

Acosta’s P4 in the Aragon GP also made him the top non-Ducati rider in the main race. But it was far from enough for the Spaniard to maintain his challenge to Bagnaia for the podium at MotorLand Aragon, as the Ducati racer pulled away and left Acosta in his dust in the desert.