ACOSTA SAYS KTM IS TOO FAR OFF THE PACE TO FIGHT FOR THE TITLE

Pedro Acosta is resisting talk of a MotoGP title charge despite arriving at the Japanese Grand Prix fresh from his first premier-class victory. The KTM rider ended a 56-race wait for a win in Austria, his first since Moto2 in 2023, and is now 72 points behind championship leader Jorge Martin. Marc Marquez called Acosta a title threat after the Austrian race, but Acosta says KTM’s pace remains a bigger obstacle than the points gap.

“To be honest, we are far, in terms of speed—not that much in points,” he said in Japan. Acosta said it had been a long time since he and KTM had been in a position to fight for a win, making the Austrian result especially pleasing for the team. He was dominant in both races at the Red Bull Ring, though a concentration error cost him the sprint victory while he was well clear.

Rather than focus on the championship, Acosta wants to set his own goals. Third place is within reach, he said, but he expects a tough fight: Aprilia has shown strong speed, Martin has been particularly quick since the summer break, Marquez is likely to be at the front, and Francesco Bagnaia was extremely fast at Motegi last year. Acosta is fourth in the standings on 234 points, 30 behind third-placed Marco Bezzecchi.

Acosta’s immediate priority is to stay consistent and avoid mistakes. “Now is the time to not think about that, don’t make a mistake, be competitive and see where we are when we arrive to Europe again,” he said, referring to the title picture.

Motegi’s stop-start layout could suit his style, as Austria did, and he has shown speed there before. He took pole in Japan in 2024 but crashed in both races while in contention for victory; last season he finished outside the points. Acosta said he had shown potential at the circuit since his first MotoGP race, but had yet to turn it into a result. He also warned that tyre life has been a recurring problem there, and said he would wait to see how the new asphalt felt on the bike before setting expectations.

Asked whether he could win again this weekend, Acosta replied: “You never know.” His target remains a climb towards third in the standings, not an immediate title bid. “Let’s try to not make so many mistakes in these Asian rounds and keep going,” he said, aiming to build on his breakthrough win and reassess the championship picture when the series returns to Europe.