Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta insists that becoming MotoGP world champion is not his ‘target’ this year, even though he leads the standings before this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Acosta collected 32 points in Thailand after winning the Sprint – his first MotoGP victory of any description – and finishing second in the Grand Prix behind Marco Bezzecchi. He is seven points clear of the Aprilia rider ahead of round two.
Bezzecchi has been seen as the likeliest external challenger to Marc Marquez this year, but Acosta’s stellar performance in Buriram, where he overtook the world champion multiple times, has marked him out as a potential dark horse.
Do you consider Pedro Acosta a MotoGP winner?
Pedro Acosta says winning 2026 MotoGP title is not his ‘target’
Speaking in the pre-race press conference on Thursday, Acosta said he felt out of place at the top of the championship. He finished sixth in his rookie season and improved to fourth last year.
For the KTM rider, the priority is to cut out the ‘mistakes’ that plagued him in 2025. Acosta only suffered five retirements but had to wait until the Brno Sprint in July to score his first podium.
Marquez joked after the Sprint that Acosta’s lead would be temporary, but the uncertain weather conditions and grip levels in Goiania could present another opportunity for the underdog.
Was Marc Marquez’s dig at Pedro Acosta really necessary?
Acosta told reporters in Thailand that 'it wasn't a one-day [championship] lead like Marc said'.
There is a feeling at Ducati that Marquez may not be at his best this weekend given that the track layout doesn’t suit him, and he’s still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered last autumn.
“[Leading the championship is] cool, but at the end, I know that it’s maybe not my place to be,” Acosta said. “You can imagine it’s super nice to see yourself at the top of the MotoGP world standings.
“But it’s not our target now. I have to keep working like I’m doing. I was really happy about the race in Thailand, because I was not committing mistakes that I normally made last year, but we have to keep working like this.”
Michelin may have handed Pedro Acosta a key advantage over Marc Marquez
The Brazilian GP circuit has been affected by flooding in the lead-up to the race. While the intense heat has dried the track relatively quickly, the rain has spread dirt across the surface.
Acosta says that will ‘make things difficult for everyone’, though he believes the track should offer good grip once clean. Premier-class Grand Prix bikes haven’t raced in Goiania since 1989.
Michelin are bringing their reinforced tyre casing to Brazil, which has historically been a problem for Ducati – including in Thailand last time out. Should it stay dry, that could hand the advantage to Aprilia and KTM once again.
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