KTM Team Boss Pit Beirer Credits Acosta and the Marquez Brothers for Closing on Marc at Misano

KTM’s MotoGP boss Pit Beirer looked back on a busy Misano weekend with a mix of satisfaction and urgency, pointing to how quickly the team’s momentum is being tested as the calendar turns toward Spielberg. Marc Marquez’s Ducati dominance at San Marino—capped by a double win—put him back at the front of the championship, while Alex Marquez finished second after starting from ninth and charging through the field.

For KTM, the positives came from the depth of its RC16 performances. Beirer highlighted that all four KTM riders scored points on Sunday: Pedro Acosta, who climbed from seventh to the podium; Enea Bastianini, who finished eighth; Brad Binder in 11th; and the replacement rider Pol Espargaro, who took 14th. Beirer said the team had already been encouraged by Aragon, but Misano showed that the riders could deliver even after a difficult stretch marked by engine problems over the summer.

Beirer’s analysis of the race focused on the way the front group formed and how hard it was to catch Marc Marquez once the pace settled. “As we all saw, we had a very hard summer—with the problems we had with the engine. Aragon was already a good race. And now this weekend, with all four guys in the points…” he said. He then described the key moments: “Brad has unbelievably many riders overtaken, Enea also. Then Pedro (Acosta) from P7 rode to the podium. Pedro and Alex (Marquez) went at it together from behind and then caught Marc Marquez—first of all, you have to catch him on a race track like this. For us it was already a very good race Sunday and also a very good build-up for the Spielberg week.”

With KTM’s home Grand Prix in Austria approaching (Spielberg on 18–20 September), Beirer framed the next challenge around the Red Bull Ring’s reigning threat: Marquez. He called the nine-time world champion “the opponent” for KTM, adding that the level of respect is earned by how Marquez keeps returning from injuries and still finds a way to perform. “We have to say clearly: now the boss is back and he’s already making himself dominant. It’s really admirable what the guy does,” Beirer said. “He’s unfortunately always the opponent for us. But you have to show so much respect for how he fights back from injuries and is even currently handicapped, and still delivers this performance—that’s really something special. He always has that extra. And if someone thinks he’s got it now, then he pushes a bit more again. I think he’ll be a tough nut for the guys who want to turn things around.”

Looking ahead, Beirer also noted that KTM will have at least one Marquez on an RC16 next year, with Alex Marquez joining the team after being vice world champion. For now, though, KTM’s immediate focus is turning Misano’s points haul into momentum for Spielberg—while preparing for Marc Marquez to be, once again, the central obstacle.