PEDRO ACOSTA USES 24-HOUR KART RACE EXPERIENCE AHEAD OF ARAGON GP

Pedro Acosta has been using the days leading into MotoGP’s next stop at MotorLand Aragón to sharpen his endurance instincts off the bike. The Red Bull KTM rider, 22, spent much of the build-up in near anonymity in the overall of his sponsor Quad Lock, taking part in a go-kart event at the Circuit Bugatti in Le Mans—an arena that also hosts MotoGP each year.

The French conditions were described as demanding, with the competition running as a 24-hour team race. Acosta’s setup was also unusual: he did not have a motorhome on site, so he used the rear of his team’s box to rest between stints on a wide, inflatable mattress. For the crew, pizza was served directly in the box, and the team also made sure there was time for fun trackside.

Acosta drove with the go-kart outfit Mar Menor, a facility near his hometown of Murcia, where he is said to train there often—sometimes even bringing his supersport bike for private sessions. In Le Mans, the race began with a classic Le Mans-style start. Acosta was assigned his usual kart number, 37, and he took the opening stint from grid position 8.

The experience, according to the reporting, left him impressed by the endurance challenge on four wheels.

Back in MotoGP, the article also points to a fresh reason for optimism in the championship fight. It notes that KTM has managed to secure the opening of the RC16 engines, and that in recent work at the engine center in Munderfing, critical components were replaced. With the top three still within reach, Acosta trails third-placed Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia) by 40 points.