Marco Bezzecchi
KTM have been fighting tooth and nail to keep Pedro Acosta satisfied at the team to the detriment of the rest of the MotoGP riders who currently race within their stable.
Pedro Acosta’s performances atop sub-optimal KTM machinery in recent years have cemented him as the Austrian constructor’s flag-bearer heading into the new season, despite reports suggesting that he will be a factory Ducati rider in 2027.
The emergence of a KTM exit came after several months of the Spaniard voicing his dissatisfaction with the outfit’s prototypes.
Acosta was heavily linked with a move to Ducati machinery with VR46 last term, only for it to be blocked by the sport’s governing body due to the emerging threat of too many riders breaking contracts early.
While the youngster has been looking for greener pastures, KTM engineers have been working hard to solve a multitude of issues that he has reported on over the last 12 months, sparking some frustration from the rest of the riders under the factory team’s umbrella.
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In an interview with journalists on the eve of MotoGP’s 2026 season-opening Thailand Grand Prix, Tech3 star Enea Bastianini highlighted how Acosta is very much being favoured within the KTM stable at the moment.
“It’s much easier to focus on the fastest rider,” began Bastianini, via Speedweek. “Right now, Pedro is the fastest, and KTM is working very hard for him.
“From the manufacturer’s point of view, that’s the right thing to do. But we are four different riders, and each of us has a different riding style; everyone needs something different.”
The Italian rider was then asked what his biggest problems with the 2026-spec RC16 are, to which he replied, “My bike is unstable on the straights. The front wheel floats a bit and lifts up, and it’s very nervous when I touch the curb.
“But I think we’ve been able to improve this somewhat, because it’s not normal. It happened much less often last year. We need to find a solution for this, because it’s critical.”
Acosta painted an optimistic picture of his chances in the upcoming season after the final pre-season test in Buriram, indicating that the Austrian constructor has made some advances in the areas that the Spaniard had issues with in Sepang.
- READ MORE: Jorge Lorenzo bets Pedro Acosta’s manager that Maverick Vinales will beat him at KTM in 2026
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KTM staff think Maverick Vinales will beat Pedro Acosta during the 2026 MotoGP season
The Spaniard’s status as KTM’s lead rider has also irked another member of the team’s factory-supported riders.
Jorge Lorenzo saw ‘more tension’ than usual between Acosta and Maverick Vinales at MotoGP’s pre-season test in Sepang, with the veteran eyeing his spot with the help of the three-time world champion’s advice.
In fact, KTM staff actually believe that Vinales will beat Acosta in a straight fight with equal machinery this season, with it also being reported that Lorenzo has made a bet with the 21-year-old’s manager over who will end up on top.
It should be a fascinating narrative to keep an eye on as the campaign unfolds. Vinales is expected to fill Acosta’s seat upon his reported departure to Borgo Panigale, so it could be a sign of things to come in the following season, too.
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