Dani Pedrosa believes KTM must fully capitalise on Pedro Acosta’s determination and mental strength as the young Spaniard prepares for his third MotoGP season with the manufacturer in 2026.
Acosta has been part of the KTM system throughout his entire grand prix career. He joined Moto3 with the brand in 2021 and immediately claimed the world title, before repeating that success in Moto2 with the KTM-backed Ajo team in 2023. His move to MotoGP came the following year with the GASGAS Tech3 squad, and he is now a full factory KTM rider.
Despite an impressive debut at the top level, Acosta is still chasing his first MotoGP victory. While his rookie season showed huge promise, KTM was unable to make the step required in 2025 to consistently give him a race-winning package.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Pedrosa highlighted Acosta’s mindset as one of his biggest assets. He described the youngster as mentally strong, highly motivated and clear about his goals, stressing that KTM must make the most of those qualities. Pedrosa also admitted that 2025 was a challenging year for the team, partly due to financial issues, but insisted that the situation is improving.
Looking ahead, Pedrosa is hopeful KTM can move forward in 2026 and use Acosta’s speed and energy to fight regularly for podiums and race wins.
KTM ended last season behind Aprilia in the constructors’ standings, with the Italian manufacturer emerging as a bigger challenger to Ducati after securing four grand prix victories. However, Pedrosa remains confident in KTM’s progress, saying the team has reached a higher performance level.
He pointed out that further gains will now be harder to find and emphasised the importance of working more efficiently. Qualifying performance and tyre management were identified as key areas for improvement, with Pedrosa noting that starting on the first two rows has become increasingly vital in modern MotoGP.
Meanwhile, Acosta’s long-term future remains a hot topic, with his next contract expected to be central to the 2027 rider market amid ongoing reports linking him to a potential move to Ducati.
