The San Marino Grand Prix weekend at Misano saw Pedro acosta and KTM face significant challenges before achieving a remarkable turnaround. After struggling with braking issues during the sprint race, Acosta and his team made drastic changes overnight that propelled him to a fifth podium finish on Sunday.
The weekend began with Acosta, who had shown strong performances at Silverstone and Aragon facing unexpected difficulties. His struggles with braking performance left him visibly frustrated, culminating in a sixth-place finish in the sprint race. The Spaniard lost over half a second per lap to race winner Marc Marquez highlighting the severity of his bike’s issues.
Overnight transformations and a podium finish
Sunday’s race told a different story. KTM’s decision to completely change the bike overnight proved to be a game-changer. Acosta launched from ninth on the grid to finish fourth behind Alex Marquez. As the race progressed, he closed to within one second of the leading Marquez brothers, briefly becoming an outside contender for victory. Despite a lock-up at Turn 7 that forced him to back out of the fight, Acosta secured third place, his fifth podium of the season.
Acosta admitted that he and KTM were lost earlier in the weekend but praised the team’s efforts. “I’m happy because it looks like we improved the bike from yesterday,” he said. “Well, at the end, we changed the whole complete bike.” The team reverted to a set-up used during Friday’s practice, which helped Acosta regain confidence in braking and attacking.
KTM’s focus on performance and innovation
With engine reliability issues addressed, KTM can now concentrate on performance improvements. Acosta noted that the team in Mattighofen is working super hard and is open to new ideas to enhance the RC16 in the final year of MotoGP’s 1000cc era. “Sometimes you have to get angry to give your best performance,” he remarked, highlighting the team’s dedication and his own determination.
The gap to top teams like Ducati and Aprilia remains a concern for Acosta. He acknowledged the terrifying deficit but remains optimistic about KTM’s potential. “We’re giving it everything we’ve got and more,” he said, emphasizing the team’s relentless efforts to close the performance gap.
The road ahead for Acosta and KTM
As the season progresses, Acosta and KTM will continue to push boundaries and seek improvements. The overnight transformation at Misano serves as a testament to their resilience and innovative spirit. With a fifth podium under his belt, Acosta is poised to make further strides in the championship, aiming to challenge the top riders and narrow the gap to the leading manufacturers.
