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Pedro Acosta has left behind his rookie year and now seems to have taken over the reins of the KTM project in the MotoGP, scoring on the second test day, with the best reference for the Austrian manufacturer, at 5 tenths from Morbidelli's GP24. The Spanish rider is, however, aware of the margins for improvement, for which he'll still have to work, before the first round of the season on the Buriram circuit. While his riding style is now more natural, since he's adapted to the particularities of the premier class, KTM's enfant terrible doesn't skimp on self-criticism, admitting that there are still several aspects he can improve. His opinion on the tests appeared positive overall. The gap with the rival manufacturers isn't excessive but, for a clearer picture of the situation on the track, we'll have to wait for the first weekend of the championship.
"As bad as we had started the day, I can say that we at least saved it," Acosta said. "Everything happened in the morning. First, I fell at turn five on the exit lap for no reason. I was going slow. I'd like it if they'd tell me why I went down, and the bike also got quite ruined. Then, I'd do a lap, and they'd call me back to the garage. At one point, the garage portcullis wouldn't even open. There was a moment when I said, 'let's wrap it upand go eat, it's one of those days'. Then, in the afternoon, we did a lot of work, and more or less completed our program. We should be happy, because we progressed, and we aren't in bad shape, compared to our rivals."
Are you trying different engines, like Ducati and Honda?
"Honestly, I don't know. I'd like to improve everything because everything can be improved. We've taken a pretty big step forward. We're not doing too bad, because we're consistent. The problem is that I lost a lot if time this morning. I think we'll answer all our questions during the tests in Thailand."
You're trying to ride more 'on the rear'. How's that going?
"It's not going badly. There are times I have to think about what to do. I tell myself, 'Pedro' do this, do this, do this'. There are days when everything will work and others when it doesn't. It has to become natural. There are tracks, like here or in Thailand, where this style helps. The easiest thing would be to ride like always, but you get to a limit, and you have to know how much to be more aggressive and when to be calmer. If I brake too late, I don't enter corners fast, and it's never been easy for me to have lots of speed in mid corner. So, I have to make those movements differently, so as to also solve the grip problems I had last year."
