He has the trophy, he has the points, and he’s the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP World Championship—but Pedro Acosta isn’t celebrating just yet.
Following a chaotic Tissot Sprint at the ThaiGP, where a late penalty for Marc Marquez handed him the win, “The Shark” remained remarkably grounded in the media scrum.
Despite the historic result, the 21-year-old sensation admitted that winning via a steward’s intervention at the final corner wasn’t exactly the “dream debut” he had envisioned for 2026.
Acosta was candid about the challenges he faced during the 13-lap fight. While his KTM RC16 was a beast in the twisty sections, the sheer power of Marquez’s Ducati in the opening sectors kept him on the defensive.
“I was losing in T1 and T2,” Acosta admitted, noting that he had to “row the streets” to stay in touch with the lead group.
“I was quite fast in T3 and T4, and I was making back what I was losing. Marc was braking super late at the last corner and Turn 1, making it quite difficult to make the move.”
Before the weekend, Acosta had predicted the Sprint would be his toughest session, believing his bike was better suited for the long-distance race on Sunday.
“I was quite surprised at the end,” Acosta said. “I planned my race like last year—six laps of qualifying and let’s see what happens. It’s true that I was more able to be with them at the beginning than I expected.”
When the conversation turned to the controversial penultimate-lap contact that triggered the penalty, Acosta showed his racing pedigree by refusing to celebrate a “technicality.”
“It’s super cool to make a sprint like this with Marc. But maybe I don’t feel really like a winner, you know, because he let me pass [at the final corner due to the penalty]. It’s a good way to start the season, but tomorrow, we will try to get this real victory.”
Acosta’s approach to the Sprint mirrored his aggressive Moto3 days—pure, unadulterated sprinting from the lights. However, he knows Sunday’s Main Race will require a different set of tools.
“Tomorrow, everyone will have to manage [tires]. It will be important to stay calm and take it step by step.”
Pedro Acosta may be the championship leader tonight, but his eyes are firmly on the “real” trophy. By acknowledging that Marquez might have had “something more” if not for the penalty, Acosta is setting the stage for an even more explosive showdown in the Main Race.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
