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As we all know, it's not a time of great conviction for KTM. A huge question mark still hangs over their future, but they'll have some answers after February 25th, when creditors will vote on the restructuring plan proposed by the company. Yet, despite the precariousness of the situation, there's a center of gravity that has a first and last name: Pedro Acosta. After all, if you win your first title on your debut in the World Championship, and your second after only one year of apprenticeship in the top class, that means you already have pretty strong shoulders for holding up complex situations. The rider from Mazarron responded favorably, ending the three-day Malaysian test with a 6th time reference and a delay of +0.682 from Alex Marquez's GP24, besides riding the best of the RC16s on the track (Brad Binder came in 13th, Vinales 16th, and Bastianini 18th). The process Acosta uses in approaching the Ducati will still have to take several evolutionary steps, but he was happy, aware, and confident when he was interviewed at the end of the session.
"These tests in Malaysia went well. We were lacking a little something, also because of mistakes I made while riding, but it went better than what you saw. So, we're happy with the work we've done. It was days that we there, at the door of the 56', but it's the first day that I was really very, very happy. Yesterday, we hadn't been able to ride much. Instead, today, despite some rain in the afternoon that slightly complicated things, we have something to be happy about. KTM has been working a lot, and we've been getting closer. The braking is as strong as it was last year, but now it allows you to be more precise. Also, the team is working really well, and we're getting in synch."
Given the situation, there were several doubts about the KTM. How will they get to Malaysia after such a winter? Will they be competitive?
"I didn't have any doubts," the Spanish rider abruptly interrupted with a firm tone. "The truth is that there are things that need to improve. I can't give everything a ten. That doesn't even happen in the best marriage in the world. It's mostly a matter of figuring out what we're missing. I'm personally doing really well. I have very clear ideas, but you can't think that we would've needed only two months to discover America. Brad, on the other hand, had problems this morning.The point is, we have to figure out why a big handicap has emerged that we didn't have last year."
So, is the test in Thailand needed more to prepare for the Grand Prix or to continue working on the bike?
"In my case, I, more or less, tested everything that was brought from the factory here, because we rode very little yesterday. But, today, we managed to do many laps. In Buriram, I'd like to focus on the set-up, because I rode the same bike I did when I came here the first time and, for the flying lap, the set-up is very important. I still use Pol's. If everything goes right in that respect, maybe we'll also try something more."
In the end, how did the Sprint simulation go?
"It went well. Maybe something happened with the tire, but I'm not sure, so I can't say anything. Right from the first lap, I didn't have grip and, from the third on, I had to think about surviving. It was a little frustrating to do ten laps suffering, but we have to be happy because, in spite of everything, the pace was good. I was able to do ''57 already from the second lap. For me, that's important, because I usually struggle a bit to get the pace."
