Pedro Acosta started to ‘suffer a lot’ while battling fierce MotoGP rival at the Austrian Grand Prix

Add as preferred source on Google

Pedro Acosta fell just short of a second consecutive MotoGP podium at the Austrian Grand Prix after being overtaken by a rival late in the race.

The Spaniard has now drawn level with both VR46 riders in the standings, with fifth, sixth and seventh place all on 144 points after 15 events.

Considering KTM’s slow start to the campaign and the financial woes that have engulfed them in 2025, Acosta’s performances have been impressive.

The Austrian Grand Prix was clear evidence of just how far his mindset has developed, as he was satisfied with a fourth-place result, rather than pushing the limit and risking a crash.

Acosta is taking action at KTM after seeing the attention that Tech3’s Maverick Vinales has received from the Austrian manufacturer.

However, looking to the future, Acosta will be delighted to hear that multiple teams could be prepared to table an offer for his services for the new regulations from 2027. He’s going to be in demand.

READ MORE: Pedro Acosta told he lacks one ‘shining’ talent Valentino Rossi possessed during his MotoGP career

Pedro Acosta started to ‘suffer a lot’ with tyres battling Fermin Aldeguer at the Austrian Grand Prix

Acosta should be wary of one ‘dangerous’ KTM situation in the future, with no guarantee over the team’s participation in the premier class beyond 2026.

He doesn’t want to leave it too late to find a ride for the future, but he also needs to remain focused on the task at hand. It’s a difficult balance to find.

Marc Marquez wants to put Acosta ‘in his place’ and it’s clear that the Spaniards are aware of the threats that each other’s skillsets pose.

Speaking after the race in Austria, Acosta discussed how his tyres were causing him to ‘suffer’, just as he began to battle the most fierce of his rivals – Fermin Aldeguer.

“I struggled a little, especially with the front tyre. When I passed Pecco, I was already suffering, but I could more or less manage it. Before Fermin passed me, I started to suffer a lot, I was losing a lot in the third sector,” he told the Italian edition of Motorsport.com.

“And Aldeguer was faster than everyone else. It wasn’t a race to be thrown to the wind for no reason. It’s a fourth place, I’m not happy, but I’m satisfied with the work we did this weekend. We had the consistency I was looking for.”

READ MORE: ‘Positive’ Pedro Acosta spotted making behind-the-scenes change at KTM that has yielded ‘much better’ MotoGP results

Why don’t Pedro Acosta and Fermin Aldeguer get on very well?

Aldeguer is determined to prove Acosta isn’t the ‘world’s star’ in MotoGP, and has slowly been improving during his rookie season.

The two young riders are both Murcians and hail from the same part of Spain. Once friends, they are now bitter rivals and race hard on the track.

Aldeguer ‘distanced’ himself from Acosta during his childhood because they had a clash of personalities. For the next few years, they are bound to be close to each other a lot.

Talent-wise, both have been touted to reach the very top. Relentless in their racing style and intense in battles, as witnessed with a dive from Aldeguer in Spielberg, this is just the beginning for one of MotoGP’s freshest rivalries.