Absent from the MotoGP podium for the previous three occasions, rookie Pedro Acosta heads for extra beneficial KTM territory within the type of the manufacturing facility’s house Austrian spherical this weekend.
After a spectacular begin to the season with back-to-back grand prix rostrums in Portimao and COTA, Acosta and KTM have been absent from the Sunday podium celebrations ever since.
The younger Spaniard stored the Dash podium depend rising at Jerez and Mugello however these additionally dried up at Assen, Sachsenring and Silverstone.
“I am nonetheless centered on believing that once we go to Austria, Misano, Aragon, Thailand, Japan, we will likely be once more on the entrance,” Acosta mentioned on the British Grand Prix.
Not solely is the stop-go nature of the Crimson Bull Ring extra naturally suited to the RC16’s strengths, however KTM may depend on current personal testing knowledge.
“Each Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez will be capable to use all the information acquired by the take a look at staff through the exams finished in Spielberg, to present their greatest, and carry out in entrance of Austrian followers,” mentioned Tech3 staff supervisor Nicolas Goyon.
“In Silverstone, Pedro was again in his vary of factors, and I’ve little doubt that his quick studying skill and his good expertise in Austria will assist him struggle on the prime, figuring out {that a} Pierer Mobility machine was on the rostrum each within the dash and the principle race final season.”
KTM’s Brad Binder was runner-up to Francesco Bagnaia in each of final yr’s Austrian races, when Acosta was second within the Moto2 race.
The #31 beforehand took victory on the circuit throughout his debut 2021 grand prix season within the Moto3 class.
“Austria has at all times been a really particular circuit for the Pierer Mobility household and myself,” Acosta mentioned.
“It’s a monitor that I like, the place I achieved good outcomes previously, so we’ll see if we are able to proceed this momentum this season.
“I’m trying ahead to getting out on monitor in entrance of all our Austrian followers, and to indicate them that we’re bettering, race after race, to be giving them one of the best present potential.
“I’m feeling good, and I’m very motivated.”
Whereas Acosta will be a part of the manufacturing facility KTM staff subsequent season, team-mate Augusto Fernandez is looking for a brand new seat because of the arrival of Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini for 2025.
Fernandez hasn’t felt absolutely snug since switching to the 2024 bike, which, coincidental or not, consists of the change from a metal body to a carbon fibre chassis.
“Augusto remains to be struggling, and nonetheless in search of a reference race. The hard-braking and the corners of the Crimson Bull Ring will likely be extra appropriate to our bike and his type, and it’ll for certain assist him to be quicker,” Goyon mentioned.
Acosta is battling Maverick Vinales and future team-mate Brad Binder for fifth and prime non-Ducati on the planet championship, whereas Fernandez is presently seventeenth.
