HODGSON SAYS ROSSI FANS ARE BACKING ACOSTA TO CHALLENGE MARQUEZ

Pedro Acosta’s rise is drawing support from fans who have long backed Valentino Rossi, according to former rider and pundit Neil Hodgson. Speaking on the Gas it Out podcast, Hodgson said some Rossi supporters who dislike Marc Marquez are looking to the young Spaniard as the rider who might eventually beat him.

“Pedro, ridiculous again,” Hodgson said, praising Acosta’s performance at the Malaysian Grand Prix. “Just outstanding. Everything about him is just exciting, isn’t it?” Acosta finished second to Marquez after taking his second Sprint win of the season, bringing his tally to seven podiums. He has also won a Grand Prix this year, despite KTM often trailing the leading Italian machinery.

Hodgson said Acosta’s appeal extends beyond his results. “His fanbase is growing fast, but I love the way he comes across when he’s interviewed,” he said, describing the rider as honest and aware that Marquez was fighting for the championship. Acosta had said after the race, “I had nothing to lose.” Hodgson rated his weekend “10 out of 10.”

The comments come as Marquez approaches a possible milestone: he and Rossi are level on seven premier-class titles, and Marquez could claim an eighth at the Qatar Grand Prix. He needs to extend his championship advantage to at least 75 points. His lead over Jorge Martin is 44, though Martin’s participation is uncertain after he withdrew from the Malaysian round with a broken wrist. Marco Bezzecchi is 67 points behind Marquez.

Acosta is set to become Marquez’s Ducati factory teammate in 2027. Marquez has never been beaten by a teammate over a full season, but has acknowledged that Acosta could challenge that record. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as a major talent, and Rossi has admired him since his Moto3 days, once calling him a “superhero.” Rossi reportedly tried to bring Acosta to the VR46 team last year, but the rider could not leave his KTM contract.

Acosta has praised Rossi, calling him more of a “crowd-puller” than Marquez, while avoiding a firm verdict on who deserves the sport’s greatest-of-all-time label. Hodgson’s view is that Rossi’s supporters are increasingly rallying behind Acosta as a potential future rival to Marquez.