Pedro Acosta’s Friday session at the Italian Grand Prix ended without a Q2 berth, as the KTM rider struggled to find pace on the flowing Mugello circuit.
Practice difficulties and a costly off‑track excursion
Across the afternoon stint, Acosta could not match the top‑ten benchmark, finishing 13th and trailing the leaders by nearly half a second. A loss of front‑end grip on his final flying lap sent the Spaniard onto the gravel, confirming the day’s frustrations. He attributed the shortfall to the circuit’s characteristics, noting it “didn’t suit my riding style” and acknowledging that the garage side also contributed to the problems.
Data analysis and a comparison with Enea Bastianini
Tech3’s Enea Bastianini, who posted the third‑fastest time and advanced to Q2, appeared to thrive on the same “flowing” layout—a scenario Acosta aims to emulate by reviewing Bastianini’s telemetry from the satellite RC‑16. The KTM factory team plans to dissect the collected data, hoping to pinpoint the cause of the front‑end loss and adapt their setup before the next session. Acosta likened the Mugello challenges to those he faced at Jerez, especially in corners 8‑9, and expects early adjustments based on Bastianini’s approach.
While the poor performance at Mugello interrupts a season that has featured multiple podiums, a sprint win in Buriram and a near‑victory at the Catalan Grand Prix, the rider remains determined. A swift resolution of the data gaps could restore his competitiveness ahead of the remaining races.
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