Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta has been one of the most consistent MotoGP riders during the second half of the 2025 season, but he’s still waiting for his first win.
KTM took their time to get up to speed, but when they did, they gave their superstar rider a bike capable of fighting for the podium at most races. Of their four riders (including the two at Tech3), he has been by far the most impressive.
But Acosta is now one of just four MotoGP riders on the current grid who haven’t won a Grand Prix yet. Coming into the year, there was genuine hope that he would get over that hump during his first campaign on a factory bike.
KTM must give Acosta the bike he wants next year, otherwise he will be forced to field phone calls from their rivals earlier than they would like for 2027. Ducati are looking at Acosta, and he could be in line to replace two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia, but he might have to face Marc Marquez as a teammate.
READ MORE: Pedro Acosta’s stance on signing a new contract after KTM refused his seven-figure buy-out offer
Pedro Acosta knows what KTM is ‘missing’ as he chases his first MotoGP victory
Acosta wouldn’t mind being Marquez’s teammate and backs himself to compete against the very best in the championship. The Spaniard has just been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season, which could offer Acosta a greater shot at victory over the last three races.
Ducati aren’t the only ones interested in his services, with Honda ready to triple Acosta’s salary, should he opt to become the new face of their team in 2027. The greatest difficulty he will have in picking a team will be guessing who is best-placed to perform from the start of the new regulations.
Jack Miller finds it scary watching Acosta and has seen the 21-year-old do things on a bike that convinces him he can compete with the top riders. At some stage, his first win feels inevitable, but he needs his bike to be right, which he admitted to the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com is still ‘missing’ something.
“Portugal might be a good option to go fast,” he said. “We know what we’re missing. Of course, I want to win, but I’m at my best in terms of driving. I’m not making mistakes and I’m focused. The pit crew knows what’s missing.”
READ MORE: Brad Binder admits Pedro Acosta has shown him one ability he ‘for sure’ must improve
How Pedro Acosta is on a career-best MotoGP streak in 2025
Currently, Acosta is on one of the hottest streaks of his career so far, and has finished five of his last eight Grands Prix in the top five.
He remains fifth in the riders’ standings, but does have an outside chance of overtaking Bagnaia for fourth if he continues to have a disaster at Ducati.
KTM have been told to be careful with Acosta, and to try not to let him get away from their grasp while they still have him.
Riders of his calibre come around very rarely, and replacing him would be virtually impossible if they intend to continue to compete in 2027.
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