Pedro Acosta Reflects on Sepang MotoGP Test: A Balanced Assessment
Pedro Acosta, the Spanish motorcycle racing star, concluded the Sepang MotoGP test with a sense of moderate satisfaction, scoring himself a "six out of ten" for the opening pre-season outing. Despite the mixed results, Acosta remains optimistic about KTM's potential, believing it to be more competitive than the timesheet initially suggested, albeit still slower than the Ducati.
Acosta's eighth-place finish came with a crucial note: his best lap time of 1m 57.116s was recorded on the second day of the test. He estimated the RC16's true time-attack potential to be around 1m 56.8s, but acknowledged the challenges of the test schedule. On the first day, he conducted chassis tests, then rode the previous year's bike on the second day, and finally, he had to complete a lap time with both the standard and new bikes on the third day, which didn't align perfectly with his time-attack strategy.
In the Sprint simulation, Acosta showed promise, finishing second behind the factory-spec Ducatis of Alex Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Marc Marquez. He completed the ten-lap distance 6.482s slower than the pace-setter Alex and just under 4 seconds behind Marc. For comparison, Acosta finished third in the Sprint race last October, won by Bagnaia, indicating consistent performance.
Acosta also had the opportunity to follow Marc Marquez, the rider rumored to be joining him at Ducati in 2027, during the start of his simulation. He noted unexpected developments in the race simulation, particularly catching up to Marc's slowing tires while his own were fresh, despite KTM still being slower than Ducati.
When asked about his key takeaways, Acosta emphasized the importance of understanding the unexpected aspects of the bike. He acknowledged that the Sprint simulation wasn't as impressive as he'd hoped, but it was an improvement over last year's test. Acosta's focus in Thailand will be on creating pure speed, avoiding crashes, and spending more time on the track to refine his performance.
In conclusion, Acosta expressed a balanced sentiment, feeling "six out of ten" happy with his performance, the team's management, and the progress of the bike. He acknowledged the timing of the tire change as a minor setback but remained focused on the overall goal, showcasing his professional approach to the sport.
