P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Pedro Acosta says the current KTM MotoGP bike is “not good enough” – and called on his team to make a Yamaha-like step
Pedro Acosta expressed disappointment with the performance of the current KTM MotoGP bike and urged his team to emulate Yamaha’s progress. Despite KTM’s recent investment boost from Bajaj Auto, all four KTM RC16s struggled to secure direct passage to Q2 during the practice session at the British Grand Prix.
Acosta narrowly missed out on a top-10 spot, emphasizing that the bike needs significant improvements to match Yamaha’s speed. He described the situation as “sad” and highlighted the tight competition at Silverstone, where even a small improvement could have made a difference.
While Acosta recognized some positive aspects of the bike’s performance, he emphasized the need for a substantial leap forward to be competitive. Despite the challenges, Acosta remains committed to KTM until at least the end of 2026, although rumors about his future with the team persist.
Other KTM riders, including Maverick Vinales, Brad Binder, and Enea Bastianini, also faced specific issues with the bike during the British Grand Prix practice. Vinales struggled with rear tyre grip, Binder felt he couldn’t push the bike to its limits, and Bastianini highlighted difficulties with the RC16’s handling during acceleration.
Overall, the KTM team, including Acosta, faces the challenge of improving the bike’s performance amidst tough competition in the MotoGP series.
