Two factors, and fewer than two-seconds, price rookie Pedro Acosta fifth place and prime non-Ducati rider within the closing 2024 MotoGP World Championship standings.
The GASGAS Tech3 rider started the ultimate grand prix of the season with a two-point benefit over Crimson Bull KTM’s Brad Binder, regardless of retiring from the Dash attributable to fairing harm from a lap one tangle with Marc Marquez.
It was the thirteenth time this season Acosta has failed to attain, together with his non-start in Australia.
However with Binder solely 18th on the grid, and Acosta beginning sixth, the 20-year-old was nonetheless favorite to attain his objective of confirming fifth within the championship.
Nevertheless, it was snatched away from him when Binder produced one other spectacular cost to sixth, whereas Acosta pale to tenth with a braking challenge.
“A tough race and managing an issue with the brakes if you find yourself driving at 350 km/h are two various things,” mentioned Acosta afterwards.
“I had no energy within the brake. It was tough to handle from lap one. The one factor was that in lap one I had grip within the rear, however when this grip went away there was no f**king option to go quick.
“In lap 12, I used to be made 40.8. That was not unhealthy in any respect, and from one lap to the opposite one I am going to 41.4, 41.6, 42s! I don’t even make [42s] in FP1.
“It’s what it’s. Do not get me incorrect, tough to… perceive why.
“I am OK as a result of appears to be like like I am not the one one having issues in the entire season, as a result of Marc mentioned many occasions about this. However this can’t be acceptable.”
It isn’t identified if the brake challenge was associated to break brought on by Acosta’s huge warm-up accident.
Acosta might not have been the highest RC16 rider within the closing standings, however he achieved essentially the most KTM podiums (5) and laps within the race lead (13).
“It was a season with excessive and lows, some actually good outcomes, and a few irritating moments with errors made, nevertheless it was a really constructive season basically,” he mentioned.
Acosta will now be a part of Binder on the manufacturing unit Crimson Bull KTM staff from Tuesday’s Barcelona check.
“I’m blissful to start out one other chapter, simply subsequent door although as I stay within the household, however I’m leaving some individuals,” he mentioned.
“From the primary day I felt welcomed, the mechanics and everybody else round had been good to me, so I’ll eternally have in my coronary heart my first season in MotoGP with Tech3.”
With team-mate Augusto Fernandez can be departing, most likely for a Yamaha check driving rile, with Tech3 working MotoGP race winners Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini subsequent season.
