Marco Bezzecchi
Pedro Acosta has issued an update on his predictions for the 2026 MotoGP title, with the KTM ace expecting that it is ‘just a matter of time’ before one of Marc Marquez’s main rivals lays down the gauntlet.
Despite ending the first round of the season as the championship leader, it quickly became clear that KTM’s calibre of prototype would hinder Pedro Acosta in his hopes of securing a maiden world title.
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Aprilia ended up emerging from the first few race weekends with the most complete bike on the grid, with Ducati seemingly conceding their throne after spending the best part of a decade at the top of the MotoGP pecking order.
Marco Bezzecchi currently leads the MotoGP standings through his fine performances in the Grand Prix format, but Acosta is adamant that his teammate, Jorge Martin, won’t let that stand for much longer.
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Jorge Martin is Pedro Acosta’s favourite in the 2026 MotoGP title race
In a recent appearance on the Gyspy Tales podcast, Acosta was asked for his thoughts on who will take the title home following the conclusion of this year’s 22-round schedule.
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“I will say Martin at the moment,” the 21-year-old replied, before adding, “He was taking it easy, he didn’t come to the first test of the year, but then he’s already taken back-to-back wins at Le Mans.
“[In Barcelona], it looked like he was struggling a lot, but he was still ready to win. At the moment, Martin may not be performing at his maximum level because of his injuries, so maybe he’s not 100%, I would say.
“But he has the bike, it’s just a matter of time before he starts to be a hammer.”
The Murcian native was referencing Martin’s injury-hit 2025 campaign that saw him enter just seven race weekends over the entirety of the season. His points tally of 34 ranks the term as the worst title defence in MotoGP history.
Acosta continued to compliment his compatriot, going on to applaud how impressive Martin’s win at the French Grand Prix was. The Aprilia ace started from P7 on the grid, and had it all to do to ensure that he would stand on the top step of the podium.
“On Sunday, he recovered like six seconds,” he continued. “I mean, with a standard bike, average bike, you don’t win from seventh, and you don’t recover six seconds.
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“What makes it even more difficult is that he recovered, I would say X seconds, to the same bike that he was riding. Now, in his personal performance, it looks like he’s at the same level that he was when he won the title with Ducati.”
Martin currently sits 20 points behind Bezzecchi in the riders’ standings, following a double DNF for the factory Aprilia outfit after the former’s hasty entry into turn one at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
With 14 rounds still left to be contested, it is clear that the 2026 MotoGP title race is still wide open.
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