ACOSTA EAGER TO STUDY VINALES’ STRONG SEPANG DATA

Maverick Viñales made a breakthrough at the Malaysian Grand Prix, earning a direct place in Saturday’s Q2 for the first time this season after Friday practice at Sepang. His strong showing also helped underline the KTM RC16’s pace: Pedro Acosta and the other KTM riders, apart from Brad Binder, finished inside the top 10 in practice.

Acosta was pleased to see his Tech3 stablemate performing well, particularly because Viñales’ data could help KTM address problems with the bike. “I’m happy for Maverick, because he was struggling and because his data is always very interesting,” Acosta said. He added that he was not yet comfortable on the RC16: “I’m feeling a bit lost; the feel isn’t the best.”

The Spaniard said his main difficulty was understanding the front tyre. “I’m struggling to understand why I’m having such a hard time with the front tyre,” he explained. Data from both Viñales and Enea Bastianini, he said, should help the team make progress faster than at other circuits.

Acosta remained KTM’s leading rider in practice, but his comments highlighted the value of comparing information across the manufacturer’s garage as the team works to improve the bike. Viñales’ result gives KTM a useful reference point as well as a timely boost for the rider, who is due to leave the MotoGP grid at the end of the season.

Viñales has won three times at Sepang across his Grand Prix career, with each victory coming in a different class. A strong weekend could therefore offer a chance to rebuild confidence as he approaches his departure from the premier class. His exit from KTM has drawn attention, and his Friday performance showed he can still deliver a competitive result.