Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta leads the MotoGP championship heading into the Brazilian Grand Prix, but Carlo Pernat thinks KTM might cost him a chance of holding that lead.
The 21-year-old tops the standings for the first time in his MotoGP career after finally ending his winning drought. He claimed victory in the Sprint race at the Thailand Grand Prix, but Carl Fogarty does not think Acosta should count as a MotoGP winner.
Nevertheless, the KTM rider is on top of the championship after finishing second on Sunday in Buriram. Acosta has taken huge leaps forward with the RC16, with many considering him a potential title contender.
Do you consider Pedro Acosta a MotoGP winner?
KTM technical director Sebastian Risse says Acosta has got his crashes ‘under control’, with his new mentality giving him a chance of fighting regularly for podiums and even wins.
However, whether the Spaniard can keep up the momentum and remain a challenger for the title is another question. Pernat has hinted at why he may not be able to.
Carlo Pernat says KTM’s bike has ‘hampered’ Pedro Acosta’s 2026 title chances
After just one race in 2026, it is difficult to say that KTM have a bike that is capable of challenging Ducati and Aprilia regularly. After all, Acosta’s teammate Brad Binder was P7 in Buriram, while Enea Bastianini was P12 and Maverick Vinales finished down in 16th.
Acosta appears to be the only rider capable of getting the maximum performance out of the RC16. Pernat is not convinced by the machine, hence why he has some doubts about his title chances.
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He told MOW: “After Thailand, there are just two things I’d like to say: we’ve got a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in Marc Marquez, a rider in absolutely brilliant form in Marco Bezzecchi, and a massive talent who’s unfortunately a bit hampered by his bike – Pedro Acosta. So I’d be backing those three.
Elaborating further on Acosta’s title aspirations, he said: “He can work miracles, but he’s stuck with the bike he’s got. So we’ll see how consistently he manages to work those miracles. He’s certainly a phenomenon.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend
Will Pedro Acosta mark the end of Marc Marquez’s MotoGP career?
If the KTM is not a competitive bike over the course of the 2026 season, Acosta will not need to worry. In 2027, as reports have suggested, he will be joining Ducati alongside Marc Marquez.
The partnership is tipped to be a hugely exciting one, with Marquez being the best rider on the grid and Acosta being backed as the future of the sport. With the latter on the same bike as his compatriot, he could be a serious threat.
Many believe that tension will arise between the Spaniards. So much so that Alex Barros thinks Marquez will question whether to continue in MotoGP as Acosta’s teammate.
Marco Melandri thinks Marquez will retire to avoid Acosta at Ducati. On board a Desmosedici, it could be just what he needs to dominate the sport.
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