Marco Bezzecchi
Carlo Pernat believes that KTM are doing ‘everything’ for Pedro Acosta and are neglecting their other three riders.
The 2026 MotoGP season will likely be Pedro Acosta‘s last year with KTM, as he has reportedly signed for Ducati for the 2027 season.
However, KTM have not given up their efforts to fight at the front of the MotoGP grid with Acosta during his final year with the Austrian manufacturer.
At the opening round of the season, Acosta won his first Sprint Race after Marc Marquez was penalised, and he went on to finish second in the Grand Prix.
However, no other KTM riders were inside the top five in either the Sprint Race or the Grand Prix.
Pedro Acosta wins his first MotoGP race!
Have we seen just seen MotoGP's best ever Sprint?
Carlo Pernat believes Acosta will ‘put up a real fight’ in 2026
After the opening Grand Prix of the season, Carlo Pernat discussed KTM with GPOne, as he stated that Acosta is ‘keeping KTM afloat’.
Pernat also believes that KTM are supplying Acosta with all the new parts that they are producing, whereas they are ignoring the likes of Maverick Vinales, Brad Binder, and Enea Bastianini.
Despite Acosta’s future looking set to be with Ducati for the 2027 season, Pernat insists that the Spaniard will ‘put up a real fight’ against Marc Marquez in 2026.
Pernat said, “A fabulous Pedro Acosta, as they say, there are only three true talents: Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, and Acosta. Pedro is keeping KTM afloat, and KTM are doing something that is both good and bad.
“Good, because with Acosta, they are fighting for something important. He won a Sprint Race; it has not happened in ages. I believe that everything is being done for Pedro; every new thing they have, even just a screw, is given to Acosta. Not the others, not Vinales, not Binder, nor Bastianini.
“There might have been financial issues, but it is about choices. The thing is, Acosta has already decided to leave and will be a Ducati man next season. But this year, he will put up a real fight, and KTM will try to give him something extra.”
What are your thoughts on Marc Marquez getting a penalty for this move on Pedro Acosta?
Pedro Acosta is a ‘brave man’ for going up against Marc Marquez
After battling against Marquez in the opening Sprint Race of the season, Alberto Puig has called Acosta a ‘brave man’ for taking on the reigning champion.
The Honda team boss stated that Acosta ‘is a great rider’ and that he understands that Acosta ‘wants to measure himself against the best’.
Puig went on to state that Acosta is now part of a special group with Marquez, Valentino Rossi, and Casey Stoner.
This was also joined by Neil Hodgson, who compared a move made by Acosta during the Thailand Grand Prix weekend to Valentino Rossi.
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