Pedro Acosta frustrated after MotoGP Thailand crash

Pedro Acosta questions KTM’s tyre unloading issues after Buriram setback.

Pedro Acosta of Spain and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing speaks with his team in the box during free practice at the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at Chang International Circuit on February 28, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Pedro Acosta endured a frustrating race at the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, where a crash at Turn 1 on lap four dashed his hopes of a strong finish. The KTM rider, who managed to remount and complete the race in 19th place, was visibly angry afterward, calling for answers regarding the tyre unloading issues that affected his bike.

Acosta, who had been aiming for a top-10 result at Buriram, explained that the rear of his KTM RC16 suddenly unloaded while following Marco Bezzecchi’s Aprilia. This loss of rear grip led to him losing the front, ultimately resulting in his fall.

“We need to understand why this year it looks like it's much easier to unload the rear,” Acosta said. “I was following Bezzecchi, and I was getting wide and sliding too much. Then I lost the front. It was a normal crash, but we need to figure out where this unloading issue is coming from.”

Acosta demands answers over KTM’s tyre struggles

The 20-year-old Spaniard highlighted KTM’s struggle with rear unloading, a phenomenon where the rear tyre loses grip due to shifting forces during braking and cornering. While some unloading is expected in racing, Acosta noted that the 2025-spec KTM appears to be more prone to the issue than last year’s model.

“When you unload the rear, suddenly you slide, and it comes back with the front,” he explained. “It’s a combination of things. We need to understand why some things work and why others don’t.

“The only way to prevent rear unloading is to brake softer, but that doesn’t really work for my lap times.”

KTM had already experienced tyre longevity problems during pre-season testing at Buriram, and those concerns resurfaced during the race weekend. The highest KTM finisher was only eighth, as both the factory team and Tech3 satellite squad struggled with grip and consistency.

Acosta stayed in race to collect tyre data

Despite the crash, Acosta opted to stay in the race to gather as much data as possible on KTM’s performance. His team will now analyze the bike’s behaviour to determine why the tyres degraded so significantly throughout the weekend.

“The pace wasn’t bad at all,” he said. “I lost 40 seconds when I crashed, but I stayed in the race because we needed to check something in the data.

“It was important to see how the tyres behaved because we were in a dramatic situation all weekend. We need to understand why we have this degradation—it was not normal.”

KTM’s struggles continue at Buriram

Acosta’s frustration reflects a wider issue for KTM, which has yet to find a solution to its tyre woes. While the team had high hopes for the 2025 RC16, its unpredictable rear grip remains a major challenge.

With upcoming races offering different track conditions, KTM will need to work quickly to resolve these issues if Acosta and his teammates are to remain competitive. The young Spaniard, who has shown immense talent in his rookie MotoGP season, will be eager to move past this setback and return to fighting at the front.