KTM rider Pedro Acosta topped the timesheets in the second MotoGP practice at the inaugural Balaton Park round.

The Spaniard finished third in first practice before lapping 1.5s quicker to post an impressive time of 1.37.061s.

Marc and Alex Marquez finished as Acosta’s nearest challengers, lapping 0.006s and 0.281s slower, respectively.

Fermin Aldeguer made a step to finish the session in fourth place, closely followed by Italian rider Enea Bastianini.

Franco Morbidelli posted a lap to place him sixth for VR46 Ducati, as Honda’s Joan Mir secured a Q2 place on his final run and ended up seventh.

Pol Espargaro secured eighth ahead of Honda’s Luca Marini and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, with the latter the sole Yamaha rider in the top 10.

Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi both missed out by a tenth of a second, showing Aprilia are lacking in pace compared to previous races.

Fabio Di Giannantonio and Francesco Bagnaia struggled as the pair finished 13th and 14th on their respective GP25 Ducati machinery.

Brad Binder placed himself in 15th as the final KTM rider, closely accompanied by rookie Ai Ogura and Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller.

Miguel Oliveira and the second Trackhouse rider of Raul Fernandez slotted themselves in 18th and 19th.

Johann Zarco suffered a late crash, finishing 20th, but the final classified rider went to Yamaha’s Alex Rins.

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Despite matching his best result of the 2025 MotoGP season, Pedro Acosta insists that fourth place isn’t “good enough” given KTM’s current performance.

The Spaniard produced his best results of the season, finishing fifth in the Sprint before matching his best Sunday result of fourth in the main race.

Acosta duelled with factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia for the first half of the race, but dropped back and crossed the line four seconds behind the Italian.

Despite the encouraging signs that the 21-year-old has been demanding from the Austrian marque, Acosta admitted it was “painful” to see the gap between them and the leading Ducati trio.

“We managed a really good weekend, I’m happy with the weekend that we made because if you check more or less all the practices, I was in the top-five or six,” he said post-race to Crash.net.

“This is good, but not good enough. It was a good race, the pace was quite good: faster than the guys behind, slower than the guys in front.

“We finished four seconds behind Pecco [Bagnaia], seven behind Marc [Marquez]. It’s painful to see this number in the screen.”

Pedro Acosta’s hard tyre was ‘fantastic’ during the race

Acosta was the sole rider to race with the hard compound front tyre after he struggled with front locking in the Sprint race.

He admitted that the tyre change benefited him throughout the race, though he also revealed he was initially unsure if it was the right decision.

“I was having a lot of locks, problems, [in the Sprint] and, to be honest, I didn’t want this to happen again,” he stated.

“You need to understand that I’m a guy that maybe needs more the front tyre – maybe more Brad [Binder] style – to go faster.

“Yesterday, it [the medium-compound front tyre] was giving me a handicap.

“For this I go for the hard [compound front tyre]. It’s true that it was taking two laps to warm-up and feel quite okay, but the tyre after that was fantastic. I’m super-happy about my choice.

“I was quite nervous, to be honest, on the grid because I was the only one with the hard, but I said ‘Okay, we are lost already, we cannot be worse.’”

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Pedro Acosta’s patience is wearing thin with the KTM MotoGP project after he described the British Grand Prix as a “race of hopelessness.”

The 21-year-old finished the race in sixth place, finishing the 19-lapper as the sole KTM rider inside the top ten positions.

The Austrian marque’s bleak situation resulted in none of its riders reaching the second phase of qualifying. Still, Acosta made it clear that the team need improvements sooner rather than later.

“Well, not a strange race. It was a race of hopelessness,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“It’s quite sad to see that you try to be perfect in acceleration and picking up [the bike] and [lean] angles and try to be close [to the other riders] and then lose everything in acceleration for the clear thing that we don’t have this amount of grip that the others bike have.

“But it is what it is, and we have to keep going. I don’t accept [the current situation] and I’m not patient. That’s it.”

Pedro Acosta describes what’s ‘burning my blood’

Acosta revealed that time is running out for KTM to change its fortunes, otherwise it could lead to a possible departure in subsequent seasons.

After all, the Spaniard has been heavily linked with a switch to Honda, but he made a stern remark to KTM, saying it was “burning my blood.”

“Opportunity passes one time in life. I will not take all of my life to be a champion in this championship. I need help from the factory. That’s it.”

“You are only young until you are not. Many stars in the championship grow so fast and disappear as fast. Freddie Spencer. You remember? He won two titles, then had something with his arm and then never came back the same.

“At the end, it’s not that it’s only myself. You see the four KTMs out of Q2 this week and struggling a lot this weekend. We need help from the factory. Now I’m talking about the four riders, not only me.”

“But this weekend I talked quite seriously that I need help. I don’t want to come here with KTM and just burn fuel. I want to compete.”

He added: “And today I was able to compete more or less, until one time when I was in the group of Marc [Marquez], Franco [Morbidelli], Jack [Miller] and Alex [Marquez] and I was not able to fight.

“This is the thing that is burning my blood: to be so close and don’t catch it and not be able to do it, and it doesn’t matter what you do as it never arrives.”

READ MORE – MotoGP manufacturer KTM set to be saved by major shareholder amid financial struggles

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Pedro Acosta’s manager Albert Valera has provided an update regarding his potential move to Honda for the 2026 MotoGP season.

With KTM’s MotoGP future in doubt due to its financial crisis, Acosta has emerged as a central figure in the 2026 transfer rumour mill.

The 20-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, but is hotly rumoured to leave the Austrian marque at the end of 2025.

The latest rumours link him to potential moves to VR46 Ducati and factory Honda, as Franco Morbidelli and Luca Marini’s contracts expire at the end of this year.

Speaking to MotoGP.com on Friday ahead of the recent weekend at Jerez, Valera stated: “For the moment, it’s still early to have any conversations.

““We hope to change the direction of the project in the next races in Europe. So, we just want to focus on turning this situation for the better with KTM.

“We want to have good hopes, we want to believe we’re going to make it, and for the moment there is no time yet to talk about other possibilities.”

Valera provides ‘two month’ timeline to determine Acosta’s 2026 direction

Valera explained that the recent test on Monday was “important” for Acosta to gauge the true competitiveness of the RC16 package.

As the 2025 season enters its European leg, a clearer picture of Acosta’s future is expected to emerge within the next two months.

“Well, I think for every rider a test is important. I think it’s the first test of the season in Europe.

“They all say that the European races are when you can figure out the potential of the bike.”

“So, we are optimistic, we believe in KTM doing a good job in the next races. There is not only the test in Jerez, there is also the test in Aragon as well.

“So, we know that we need to do better. We know that KTM is pushing and doing their best.

“They’re the first ones who want to deliver good performances and good results. We just need to trust and be patient and wait. So hopefully the next two months will be good for KTM and Pedro.”

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Pedro Acosta’s manager, Albert Valera, suggests he “will look for other alternatives” if KTM cannot improve its current MotoGP package. 

Acosta moved to the factory KTM team this season after a stunning debut campaign, with many expecting the Spanish rider to pick up wins in his sophomore season.

However, KTM has struggled this campaign, with Acosta’s highest finish in a grand prix being eighth place, which he achieved in Argentina and Qatar. 

Italian newspaper Gazzetta claimed Acosta may leave the Austrian manufacturer if there are no signs of development in the upcoming Jerez test. 

Valera insists it’s important for Acosta to be challenging for race victories as “the best rider of his generation”.

“Anything is possible, my job is to look for the best bike for Pedro,” Albert Valera told GPone.

“Let’s see where we will find it. Hopefully it will be KTM otherwise we will look for other alternatives. Although right now, it’s still to early to talk about that.

“A rider like Acosta, the best rider of his generation, has to have the best bike, in motorsport it’s like that.

“I know he is grateful to KTM for what they have done for him. He knows the difficulties the Austrian manufacturer is going through, but he has confidence that they will bring something new in Europe.

He added: “He also has confidence that things will be better in Europe so he doesn’t feel pressure from that point of view.

“If he made mistakes it’s because he was pushing to the limit, he’s a winner and he’s trying to win even if the bike at the moment is not the best.

“He’s 20 years old and he has that hard head that tells him it can be done, so sometimes he crosses the line.”

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KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer compared Pedro Acosta’s approach to MotoGP to seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.

Beirer highlighted the value Acosta brings to the organisation as he made his factory KTM debut in Thailand at the start of March.

The 20-year-old started his sophomore year in the premier class after finishing sixth in his rookie campaign, racking up eight podiums across both Sprint and grand prix races.

“We see that he wants to ride a motorcycle every day, and is tirelessly working to find tracks to train on,” Beirer stated to GPOne in pre-season.

“The results of his fitness and performance tests are all extremely good. Pedro [Acosta] gives it his all.

“We call him a rough diamond. But he wasn’t just born with a great talent, and he’s not resting on his laurels. He certainly has a huge amount of talent, but he also works day and night to achieve maximum success.

“He rides his motorcycle day and night. In my opinion, more than anyone else, and he’s certainly the last rider to leave the paddock because he studies the data very thoroughly with his crew chief Paul Trevathan.

“With his meticulous approach, Pedro reminds me a lot of Michael Schumacher, who always got the most out of his technical package.”

KTM ‘promised’ Pedro Acosta a race winning bike

Beirer heaped further praise on Acosta and called him a talent “you probably only find once in a decade.”

The Spaniard immediately impressed in his second ever grand prix by winning in Qatar, after starting the race from the pit lane.

When asked if Acosta is the most gifted talent to climb up the MotoGP ladder in KTM colours, Beirer didn’t think twice.

“Yes. And during his Moto3 debut in Doha, he even had to start out of the pit lane.

“Pedro is an exceptional talent, the kind you probably only find once in a decade. He’s not the normal Moto2 world champion who then moves up into the higher category, but he’s an exceptional diamond in the rough. The whole scene agrees on that.

“But he has big shoes to fill if you compare him to Marc Marquez, already after his first MotoGP season. Besides, these comparisons are of no use to us. We have to focus on working with him.”

He admitted that he promised Acosta a winning RC16 for the 2025 season, though it remains to be seen whether a victory is attainable.

“Pedro gives us everything, and he demands everything from us. For example, when it comes to the question of whether we’ve done everything to put the best possible motorcycle in the pit for him.

“When during the winter, he asked us whether we were prepared to give him a winning motorcycle, we said ‘yes’. We promised him that.”

READ MORE – KTM: Stefan Pierer resigns from board of directors

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Ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season there has been concern over the future of KTM and whether it will be able to line up on the grid in Thailand.

Despite boasting its best-ever team in the premier class with Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta, the financial crisis looming over the Austrian manufacturer has been threatening its MotoGP participation, though it has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to the championship.

KTM has been forced to freeze its development on its RC16 as a result of entering self-administration, and the consequences of the financial crisis are uncertainties over what to expect from the Austrian factory and whether it will be able to snap its two year winless streak.

The concerns also mean that the battle for the number one spot in the factory has been heavily overshadowed. Binder, who has been the team leader since his victory at Brno in 2020 will likely come under pressure from 2024’s rookie sensation in Acosta, who will be desperate to take his first win in the premier class after fantastic performances last year.

How will Pedro Acosta fare in his sophomore season?

Acosta made an immediate impact on debut last season, earning the most podiums of any non-Ducati rider, but he was unable to convert his pace and potential into a victory.

Following the most crashes for any rider in 2024, as well as his first season on the grand prix ladder without a race win, Acosta has been clear that his aim for the upcoming campaign is consistency and better results.

The Spanish rider had been positive about the benefits of signing with the factory team, but the financial concerns have cast doubt over his future with the manufacturer.

Acosta and his manager visited KTM’s factory in Austria in the early weeks of the company’s restructuring process, and while there are still reportedly concerns in the Murcian’s camp, he continues to trust the bosses in charge.

“I’m happy to have made the step up to the official team, which was what we were looking for from the beginning,” he said via Marca.

“The objective will be to finish fine-tuning some points of the bike and look for consistency in the races to fight for better results.

“The current situation of KTM does not affect us at all, and I am sure that they will get through it.”

Will Brad Binder retain his status as KTM’s number one?

On the other side of the garage, it’s set to be a big year for Binder, who will be hoping to cling onto his spot as KTM’s number one rider in 2025.

The South African took the manufacturer’s first MotoGP victory in his debut season in 2020, and impressed fans worldwide the following year after his wet-weather heroics with slick tyres at Spielberg.

However, since the 2021 Styrian GP, Binder has not won a full length grand prix, with KTM’s two victories in 2022 coming at the hands of Miguel Oliveira. Though Binder finished last season as the top-non Ducati, it was clear that his machinery was not good enough to challenge those on the Desmosedici packages.

The lack of victories and the overall drop off in performance for both rider and manufacturer has made 2025 an important year for the South African, who will be aiming to prove why he has been a stalwart at KTM for so long. While Acosta is touted as the next big thing in the championship, it could be that Binder retains his status as MotoGP’s perennial underdog.

READ MORE – KTM riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta discuss 2025 MotoGP ambitions

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Factory KTM riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta discuss their respective ambitions for the upcoming 2025 MotoGP season.

The Austrian marque bolstered its factory line-up by promoting Acosta after he spent his debut MotoGP campaign with its sister team Tech3, achieving nine podiums and finishing sixth overall in the championship.

This resulted in the departure of four-time race winner Jack Miller, who moved to Pramac Yamaha following an unsuccessful stint that saw just one podium finish over two years.

South African rider Binder remains involved in the KTM project as he embarks on his sixth season with the team in MotoGP.

“It is crazy to think that this is my sixth season in MotoGP already,” he admitted.

“To be honest 2024 was the year where I probably learnt the most. Coming into 2025 I feel that it has made me a much better rider.

“My goal for the season is to take what I learnt and make that step forward to fight with the guys at the front. We are not far.

“We finished 2nd in the Constructors championship so we have one left in front of us.

“When I see how hard people are working at the factory and how much energy there is behind the scenes it is clear we are going to get there.”

Pedro Acosta pinpoints two areas for improvement in 2025

Though Binder has his eyes set on catching Ducati, his team-mate Acosta has set goals disclosing where he can improve on race weekends.

The 20-year-old perceived his debut season as a learning experience to adapt to MotoGP itself but believes there are two areas where he is lacking.

Speaking at the livery unveiling, Acosta stated: “For sure, 2024 was a good year, and we still have some goals that we keep in the pocket.

“I learned how to control a race, and how to adapt to MotoGP. It was a dream come true coming to the factory team after being in Moto3 and Moto2.

“Also having Brad as a teammate and helping develop the bike will be a very good point. It will help that he has a lot of experience in the class and I think we will make a good match together.

“The two main important points for 2025 will be the qualifying and then the first few laps of the race.

“Last year we saw that we had pace to fight for podiums or wins but we were struggling during qualifying.

“So, these two points will be the most important things to improve during this season.”

Acosta believes his elusive first win is coming despite multiple near misses, especially where he claimed his maiden pole position at Motegi.

He admits that his debut year has made him more measured and composed, as he enters the factory team and has a larger team surrounding him.

“For sure in the end, this is the change that I was fighting or looking for,” he said to Crash.net.

“In the end, there were many times this season that we were looking maybe to achieve this first win because we were fighting many times for podiums.

“It’s true that maybe now I am a little bit more calm with experience to make a big change also in the way I’m thinking.

“For sure, I’m more calm than last year and I cannot have a better group of people around me, from the mechanics to the engineers, just from the media.

“Now the key will be to be calm and it will arrive soon.”

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2024 rookie Pedro Acosta believes Jorge Martin “deserves” the 2024 MotoGP title due to his “super calm” mentality.

Martin cemented his name in the MotoGP history books by earning his first MotoGP title despite winning fewer races compared to 2023.

The Spaniard picked up ten wins in both Sprint and Sunday races, three less than in 2023, but earned 80 points more from his 2023 total, which helped him become world champion.

Martin accumulated 16 Grand Prix podium finishes throughout the season, which enabled him to win the championship by 10 points to his main rival, Francesco Bagnaia.

GasGas rider Acosta hailed Martin and his 2024 campaign, stating that his fellow countryman deserves the title due to his improved mentality.

“He deserves [the MotoGP title]. He made a super big step compared to last season,” the Spaniard said to Crash.net.

“Maybe he didn’t win races like before, but he was f**king constant!

“The consistency that I lost, he gained!” Acosta joked. 

“He was super calm. He was not making mistakes, not losing time. He really deserved it.”

Acosta wants to take a leaf out of Martin’s book

Acosta will now ride for the factory KTM team in 2025 after an impressive first year in the premier-class.

The 20-year-old accumulated a pole position in Motegi, achieved seven podiums, and finished sixth in the final standings.

Martin’s change in mentality in 2024 has inspired Acosta, and he wants to take a leaf out of his book as he improves in the series.

“From the beginning of the season, I was really focused on trying to understand how the MotoGP class is,” he said.

“We know how fast Marc is. We see how big a step mentally Martin makes. We saw how Bastianini came back. We saw how Maverick with the Aprilia had some [amazing] races that I don’t know if [even] they understood.”

“We made a lot of mistakes but also had some super nice races, coming back, fighting with the Ducatis. Fighting with guys that have a lot of experience. For this, we need to be more than happy.”

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The severity of Pedro Acosta’s injuries will require further evaluation in Thailand following his heavy crash during the Australian MotoGP Sprint race.

Acosta suffered a highside on Lap 11 of 13 during Saturday’s race and was forced to watch Sunday’s race from the sidelines.

His team, Tech3, issued an update on his injury situation, stating that he is still in pain despite having “no fractures.” (Via Crash.net)

“After being declared unfit for the Australian GP this morning, Pedro went to Melbourne’s hospital for further examination on his left shoulder. It was re-confirmed that there is no fracture, which is a positive point.

“The impact of his shoulder on the ground during his sprint crash was very intense, which has caused Pedro pain due to stretched ligaments. He will benefit from the fews days before the Thai GP to rest his body, and will be re-evaluated in Buriram.”

“All we can do is wish a speedy recovery to Pedro, as we hope to see him in Thailand next week.”

Pedro Acosta’s recent torrid spell in form

The rookie has impressed in his debut MotoGP season and has accumulated four Grand Prix podiums.

The 20-year-old earned his first pole position in Motegi earlier this month but could not take advantage of it as he crashed in both Sprint and Sunday races.

Acosta has finished only one Grand Prix in his last five MotoGP weekends, which arrived in Indonesia, where he finished second behind championship leader Jorge Martin.

The consequence of Acosta’s stagnation in point accumulation has led to his 2025 KTM team-mate Brad Binder overtaking him for fifth place in the standings, and he is now the new lead non-Ducati rider.

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