Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta was just millimetres away from securing his second Sprint race victory of the season at the Catalan Grand Prix today, with the KTM rider admitting that he had one of Valentino Rossi’s most iconic overtakes on his mind during the final lap.
0.041s separated Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez at the chequered flag on Saturday afternoon, with the Gresini star claiming his first shorter format victory over his younger rival.
Very fine margins decided the Catalan Sprint as Alex Marquez won – Who was your rider of the Race?
Acosta led the proceedings for the first third of the Sprint race, but looked to be holding up the rest of the pack with some superb defensive riding due to the limitations of his KTM RC16.
However, once Marquez finally made his move on lap four, he struggled to open up a gap out in front. After a brief battle with Raul Fernandez, Acosta was quickly onto the rear of Marquez’s Ducati and remained there all the way to the finish line.
- READ MORE: MotoGP Sprint results as Alex Marquez wins at Catalan Grand Prix and Jorge Martin crashes again
Pedro Acosta needed just ‘one more lap’ to recreate Valentino Rossi overtake at Barcelona
During Acosta’s post-race comments to DAZN, he was asked if he had any ideas of replicating Valentino Rossi’s iconic last lap overtake on Jorge Lorenzo at the 2009 Catalan Grand Prix as he approached the final corners of the Sprint.
Widely considered the greatest last lap of racing in MotoGP history, the legendary Italian rider put it all on the line as he dove down the inside of his Yamaha teammate at the final corner of the circuit.
What is your favourite Catalan Grand Prix moment?
Bonus points if it’s not Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo’s iconic last lap in 2009
With it being universally accepted that turn 13 was not an overtaking opportunity due to the fast entry speeds and a tight racing line, Lorenzo was under the impression that the win was already his.
However, Rossi executed the overtake to perfection. He ended up taking the chequered flag first for his second win in what ended up being his final championship-winning season.
In response to the query, Acosta replied, “No, in the end, he was too far out. It’s also true that we don’t have much grip when we’re leaning over, and that was Alex’s strong point, so I would have needed one more lap.”
- READ MORE: Pedro Acosta backed to become the next ‘face of MotoGP’ after Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi
Pedro Acosta reminded Neil Hodgson of Valentino Rossi during Barcelona Sprint
Before things reached a flash point on the final lap of the race, MotoGP pundit Neil Hodgson had already seen Acosta replicating Rossi’s racecraft during a melee between the Spaniard and eventual winner, Marquez.
As the Gresini rider struggled to make a move on Acosta during the opening laps of the race, he said via TNT Sports, “Pedro makes himself so wide, he forces Alex to go on the opposite side, so he can now let the brake off and control the corner.
“His racecraft, it reminds me of Valentino Rossi. He’s always aware of where the rider is, and he makes himself harder to pass.”
That’s not the first time either. During the 21-year-old’s battle with Marc Marquez in the Thailand Grand Prix, Hodgson highlighted how Acosta had replicated Rossi’s ‘dark arts’ of racing.
Tipped to be future teammates at Ducati next year, Acosta managed to put one over on Marquez as they battled for the final spot of the podium in Buriram.
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