Pedro Acosta bluntly rates his first half of the 2026 MotoGP season as a solid seven out of ten.
Results that keep him two-quarters behind Jorge Martin
In 11 races, the Spanish rookie secured one sprint victory and three Sunday podiums riding the KTM Bitfox, placing him seventh in the championship before the summer recess. Jorge Martin leads the standings, but Acosta remains only 60 points behind the factory Aprilia after a string of reliable finishes.
Technical glitches keep the scorecard from a higher rating
Acosta admitted that “three retirements due to technical problems and fitness issues” dull the overall picture. He notes that, despite only a “four” rating for the first laps of each race and missed points in Barcelona, Brno and Assen, the season still sits at a decent “five‑six” haul. “It’s the first time I’ll put a high number for performance,” he said.
Leadership within the KTM squad
After a breakout year in 2025, Acosta has matured on and off the track. He eclipses Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and remains the benchmark within the Mattighofen lineup, amassing almost as many points as Bastianini, Brad Binder and Maverick Vinales together. Even with occasional challenges from his teammate, Acosta’s consistency places him at the top of the internal leaderboard.
Looking ahead: Ducati lures the Valencia boy
Acosta avoided speculation about contending for the title, answering that he “wasn’t making many mistakes this first part of the season compared to last year.” He stresses the importance of using the summer break to diagnose the recurring technical defects behind his performance drops.
2026 will be Acosta’s final year aboard the KTM. He has already confirmed a move to Ducati for 2027, joining Marc Marquez in hopes of riding a more competitive machine.
Thoughts from the paddock
Acosta concludes that the combination of a podium‑heavy start and incremental technical improvements could keep him within instant medal contention as MotoGP heads into its second half, though the final steps to a title that time still demand a fully bug‑free chassis.
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