Pedro Acosta would price his Sepang MotoGP take a look at look a six out of 10, as he continues to judge the place KTM stands within the aggressive order forward of the 2026 season.
The Austrian producer heads into the upcoming marketing campaign on a a lot stronger footing than final yr, buoyed by an intensive improvement push over the winter.
Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales put KTM as excessive as third on the opening day of the Sepang take a look at, earlier than Acosta took over the baton for the Mattighofen-based marque and completed the take a look at in eighth place.
The 21-year-old set a finest time of 1m57.253s on the manufacturing unit RC16, however believes he may have dipped into the 1m56s and completed inside the highest 5 if he had switched to smooth tyres when the monitor situations had been optimum.
Total, Acosta left Malaysia reasonably happy with what he and KTM achieved at Sepang, as he evaluated aero and several other different components over the course of the three-day take a look at.
“I might say sure,” he replied when requested if he felt higher at Sepang in comparison with final yr. “I might say I am ‘six out of 10’ completely satisfied for this. I am completely satisfied about my efficiency, how we managed issues, how the issues within the field are going.
“I may say we didn’t put the tyre in on the proper second. However anyway, I used to be not likely specializing in pure positions. I used to be simply specializing in the job.”
Pedro Acosta, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing
Picture by: Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos
Acosta revealed that some elements of the bike’s behaviour had been sudden in the course of the take a look at, though he agreed KTM has made clear steps ahead over the winter.
The Spaniard added that the Sepang take a look at was essential for him to grasp the bottom of the bike earlier than making a ultimate push for the Buriram take a look at on 21-22 February, the place he expects to unleash his true tempo.
“There have been a couple of issues that we did not count on on the bike, and now we have to grasp now the place they’re coming from,” he stated.
“It [the test] was not ‘wow’, in my view. However inside every little thing it was not that dangerous just like the take a look at from final yr.
“I feel now we have already began [well]. Ducati remains to be a step forward, but it surely seems to be just like the [KTM] bike is working higher.
“Now my goal is to create pure velocity in Thailand as a result of right here [in Sepang] I didn’t actually need to crash. I needed to spend time on monitor and attempt to be as quick as I may with out [making] errors.
He added: “We’re nonetheless slower than Ducati, however my goal from right here was to have a transparent picture in my head of what items now we have to carry to Thailand, and attempt to make one of the best bundle now we have.
“I am fairly completely satisfied about that [the Sepang test]. It reveals that Malaysia shouldn’t be our greatest monitor. We additionally noticed it in the course of the race weekend final yr.
“Thailand might be robust additionally, if we take the previous. But in addition right here in Malaysia, after three days, now we have a variety of time to attempt issues, develop the bike, settings, time assaults and all these items, and everyone seems to be so quick. I am ready for Thailand to see the place everyone seems to be.”
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
Trending Merchandise
