ACOSTA WON’T HOLD BACK FOR MARQUEZ IN KTM’S FINAL 2026 RACES

Pedro Acosta says he will put KTM’s interests first in the closing races of the 2026 MotoGP season, even as his future 2027 team-mate Marc Marquez fights Aprilia for the championship.

Asked whether he would be a friend to Marquez in that contest, Acosta replied: “No, I mean, no friends around.” He said his priority was to deliver for KTM “until the last day”, adding that he would then turn his attention to a new season. With only a few rounds remaining, he hopes to bring the factory more podiums at circuits he believes should suit the bike.

Acosta arrives at the Australian Grand Prix fifth in the standings, one point behind Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura and 13 clear of Fabio di Giannantonio on the VR46 Ducati. He has encouraging memories of Phillip Island: last year he took a Sprint podium and finished in the Grand Prix’s top five. Still, he acknowledged that he was some way behind the race winner.

Aprilia will be a formidable benchmark. The manufacturer won both races at Phillip Island last season, with Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez, and Acosta believes it has improved further since then. “They made a big step compared to last year, and already here last year they were so fast,” he said. His aim is to stay as close as possible and put on a strong show for the fans, particularly as this is the final visit to Phillip Island for the current occasion.

The KTM rider is also hoping the weather adds another variable. “I hope that a lot of rain comes!” he said, noting that Phillip Island’s layout can allow a rider to make a difference. Wet conditions, he added, would make the racing “more funny for the fans”.

Acosta’s comments leave little doubt that he will race for his own results and KTM’s, rather than assist Marquez’s title bid. He is targeting podiums in the remaining rounds while preparing for a weekend where Aprilia’s pace and potentially changeable weather could shape the fight.