ACOSTA HOPES PHILLIP ISLAND GETS THE FORECAST RAIN

Pedro Acosta heads to Phillip Island hoping the weather forecast brings plenty of rain, which he believes could help KTM and make the racing more entertaining. The Australian Grand Prix is also set to be the circuit’s final appearance on the MotoGP calendar.

KTM struggled to match Aprilia’s pace in Indonesia, where Acosta finished sixth in the sprint and fifth in the Grand Prix. He sits fifth in the championship, 97 points behind leader Jorge Martin, with five rounds remaining.

Acosta took a sprint podium at Phillip Island last year and finished fifth in Sunday’s race despite rear-tyre problems. He said KTM’s tyre wear appears improved this season, but the team will need to test that on a circuit known to be demanding on tyres. “We’ll try to take it calmly,” he said.

He expects a tough contest, with Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi having been quick there last year. Marc Marquez, who missed last year’s event, is also a threat: Acosta noted that Phillip Island is one of the Spaniard’s strongest tracks. Last year, Acosta said, KTM was on the podium in the sprint and among the top five in the main race, but “we were quite far away from the winner.”

Friday’s forecast is favourable, while rain is expected over the weekend. “I hope it rains as much as they say,” Acosta said with a smile. He added that wet conditions would suit KTM and could make the races more exciting for fans and add interest to the championship.

The prospect of Phillip Island leaving the calendar has left Acosta with mixed feelings. He called the circuit’s atmosphere one of the best in the championship, praising fans who are close to the riders and describing the track as legendary, alongside venues such as Mugello and Jerez. “It will be very sad that we won’t come here next year,” he said.

Acosta was also asked about uncertainty surrounding the Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for November 6–8 amid conflict in the Middle East. He said he did not know what would happen, but would follow the decision made by the championship and KTM: “If they decide to go, we should go.”