KTM chief outlines how ‘benchmark’ Maverick Vinales has been helping ‘lost’ Pedro Acosta in 2025

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KTM are starting to find their feet in 2025 after a tough start to the year. Their riders had been struggling with the RC16 as the manufacturer’s financial crisis affected the on-track operation.

Maverick Vinales was the first to bring some success to KTM in 2025 as he produced a miraculous performance to finish second in Qatar. However, it was short-lived as he was hit with a 16-second time penalty for a tyre pressure infringement.

Joining satellite team Tech3 from Aprilia over the winter, the Spaniard adapted the quickest to the RC16. KTM’s riders each went their own way to get accustomed to the bike, with Vinales finding the right balance to perform, leaving the others behind.

Pedro Acosta grew frustrated as he suffered multiple crashes at the start of the season. With Vinales performing better than the factory riders in the early stages, Acosta and Brad Binder demanded action from KTM to improve the bike.

But the former soon realised that the Tech3 rider was the way to go to adapt to the RC16’s sensitive nature. Acosta admitted he has been learning from Vinales as he was scoring the top results for the manufacturer.

Herve Poncharal says Maverick Vinales is the ‘benchmark’ at KTM as he helps ‘lost’ Pedro Acosta in 2025

Acosta has since found performance in the bike, scoring his first podium of the season at Brno before the summer break. He is KTM’s highest-ranked rider, sitting seventh in the standings, while Vinales is in 11th, having missed the last two races through injury.

Acosta had been ‘lost’ on the bike, according to Tech3 boss Herve Poncharal, which left him despondent about KTM’s project. Speaking with Motorsport Espana, he explained how Vinales has helped the 21-year-old behind the scenes and set the ‘benchmark’ for him to match.

“He’s the captain because he has so much experience,” said Poncharal.

“He’s been through a lot of manufacturers. And I can tell you, for reasons I don’t understand, that Acosta was a bit lost at the beginning of the season compared to what we achieved last year. And Maverick helps everyone, including Pedro, because he’s the benchmark.

“You always follow the fastest. And Maverick has often been the fastest. That gives the other drivers peace of mind and confidence. Maverick is a very nice guy. He’s older than some, especially Pedro. And he treats him like a little brother.

“He says, ‘I’m here to help you. We’re not rivals.’ So now he’s behaving like a captain. Even though he didn’t want to. But now he really acts like a captain. At the same time, Maverick is very modest and humble.

“He would never say, ‘I’m better than the others.’ He says, ‘Let’s work together. This is a project I like. But we have to help each other. We have to work as a team.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth

Maverick Vinales continues to support Pedro Acosta as Brad Binder’s struggles wear on

Vinales says Acosta has ‘more desire’ than his KTM colleagues due to his youth. The 21-year-old has been rapid in 2025, but has had difficulty staying on the bike, which is where his fellow compatriot has looked to help him.

The Tech3 rider’s findings on the RC16 have been vital for Acosta and his upturn in form in recent races. Acosta says ‘we can’t forget’ how talented Vinales is, stating that his breakthrough with the bike was ‘a matter of time’.

The Spaniards have been leading the charge for KTM in 2025, while their teammates have struggled to adapt. Multiple crashes have hampered Binder, while Enea Bastianini has struggled immensely since moving from Ducati, but the Italian may now also have made a breakthrough.

Bastianini’s Sprint podium at Brno instilled ‘confidence’ in KTM’s project, something that Binder has not managed in 2025 as he is yet to finish in the top five in any race. Mat Oxley thinks Binder is no longer KTM’s ‘golden boy’ due to his struggles with the rear tyre.