ACOSTA EYES ANOTHER STRONG SEPANG SHOWING AS NEW TYRES ADD UNCERTAINTY

Pedro Acosta heads to Sepang hopeful of another strong Malaysian Grand Prix, after scoring third and second places there in 2025. The KTM rider said the circuit had been a successful one for him, but expects several unknowns to shape this year’s weekend.

“We have to see how strong Aprilia will be,” Acosta said on Thursday. The manufacturer arrived in Malaysia last year after a run of victories but struggled at the track, he noted, while its bikes looked quick during the winter test. Acosta is also interested to see how Marc Márquez performs, as Márquez did not race at Sepang last year. A new tyre allocation adds another variable: “We have to see how we adapt to the new tyres they’re bringing here, because they’re different from the ones in 2025.”

Acosta also reflected on the weather-hit Australian Grand Prix. He finished fifth in the Phillip Island sprint, but the main race was cancelled because of poor conditions. Asked whether losing the race day still disappointed him, he said: “It’s sad that the story at Phillip Island ended like that.” He called it the championship’s best circuit and recalled the “very good battles” staged there in MotoGP, adding that the island had given the riders a great deal and that they should be grateful.

With four Grands Prix remaining, Acosta is fourth in the championship standings. He trails third-placed Marco Bezzecchi, the Aprilia rider, by 52 points.