Pedro Acosta faces traction struggles in Argentina MotoGP sprint
KTM's Pedro Acosta battled early pace issues in the Argentina MotoGP sprint, finishing ninth as Honda showed significant improvements.
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| Pedro Acosta of Spain and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rides during qualifying for the MotoGP of Argentina at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo on March 15, 2025, in Rio Hondo, Argentina. Photo by Gold & Goose/LAT Images |
By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini
Pedro Acosta showcased early promise in the Argentina MotoGP sprint at Termas de RÃo Hondo on Saturday, making an aggressive start by overtaking Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha to climb into fourth place. However, his momentum gradually faded as the race progressed, with his lap times dropping and his rear grip diminishing. Ultimately, the Red Bull KTM rookie settled for ninth place, finishing 11 seconds behind race winner Marc Márquez on his Ducati.
After the race, Acosta expressed his disappointment, struggling to pinpoint the exact cause of his performance drop-off.
“I’m not happy. It’s difficult to understand what happened on the track,” he admitted. “There are many factors at play. We have to find out how to improve traction and get more power to the asphalt. Our bike is probably the most sensitive when it comes to losing rear grip, and that’s definitely not the best condition for us. As a result, we lose time, wobble, and slide a lot.”
Despite his frustration, Acosta remained focused on the bigger picture.
“At least we finished the race and got one point. Now it's time to forget about this result and focus on the main race tomorrow,” he said.
Honda’s surprising pace catches Acosta’s attention
While KTM struggled with consistency, Acosta was particularly impressed by the progress of Honda. Johann Zarco and Joan Mir delivered one of their strongest performances of the season, with Zarco finishing fourth and Mir securing eighth place in the sprint.
“They really did a great job over the winter,” Acosta acknowledged. “Compared to other manufacturers, they probably made the most progress.”
The 20-year-old rookie was able to observe Honda’s performance firsthand while racing alongside Zarco and Mir.
“I saw how Zarco rode, and he was really competitive. Mir also showed speed since the test session in Thailand. They have done an incredible job,” he noted.
During the race, Acosta found himself battling behind both Honda riders and noticed their stability on the track.
“I was right behind Zarco and Mir for a while. From my point of view, they looked very solid,” he said.
A different start for Acosta, but tire strategy remains key
Reflecting on his race, Acosta noted that his performance pattern differed from previous rounds.
“Usually, I struggle at the beginning of the race. This time, I actually had a good start and a strong first four laps. Normally, I tend to lose positions at the start, but this time it was a bit different,” he explained.
With the main race looming, Acosta emphasized the importance of tire selection and strategy.
“Let’s see how the conditions are tomorrow. The tire selection will play a big role, so we have to analyze everything carefully,” he said.
KTM facing challenges as Honda gains ground
The Argentina MotoGP sprint underlined KTM’s struggles in the third round of the season. Compared to Honda, the Austrian manufacturer appeared to lack progress, and their overall performance raised concerns ahead of the main race.
In the manufacturers’ standings, KTM now trails Honda following the Termas de RÃo Hondo sprint race. Acosta’s observations about his team’s difficulties aligned with the reality on the track, as KTM continued to face challenges in keeping up with their rivals.
With the main race approaching, Red Bull KTM must quickly find solutions to their grip and consistency issues. As one of the team’s key riders, Acosta remains determined to push for a better result and unlock the full potential of his bike in Sunday’s feature race.
