RiderTua.com – Once again, MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta appeared surprising and was again the best KTM racer in the sprint race at Jerez. The GASGAS Tech3 team racer remained calm when his competitors who were top racers made mistakes in difficult track conditions. The rider from Murcia Spain finished 2nd behind sprint winner Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), and thus achieved his first sprint podium.
BTW, 4 hours earlier Acosta had to lift his motorbike from the gravel after crashing in Q2. His lap was enough to start in the top 5. “I was on the limit at the last corner and just thought ‘it works or not’. I leaned 1 degree more than usual and the front started to slip,” explained the Moto2 world champion who started the race from 10th on the grid. after this error.
Pedro Acosta Wins First Sprint Podium and Now Ranks 2nd in the Standings
With a good start from the fourth row, Pedro Acosta was in 8th position after the first lap and was not involved in a big duel against another rider throughout the race. The competitors in front of him fell many times. There are still several damp spots on the track because it rained in Jerez until 11.00 (local time).
“If the track is really wet or dry, everything is fine. But things become difficult in mixed conditions. The wet spot is clearly visible at turn 8, but not at turn 5. Even though the sun is shining, we can only see it.” Acosta said.
Why isn’t the track completely dry during the race? “Maybe the water wasn’t drained optimally. If we came here to test in February, the track would be wet in the morning and dry in the afternoon. It wasn’t a warm day and it was raining,” answered the rider nicknamed ‘Mazarron Shark’.
After Brad Binder (KTM), and 3 Ducati riders Alex, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini crashed in a very short time, Acosta found himself in 2nd place which he carried to the finish line. In the end the 19 year old rookie was 3 seconds behind winner Jorge Martin, and 4 seconds ahead of KTM test rider and MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa who finished 3rd.
Acosta is now Martin’s first pursuer in the standings with 63 points after the sprint in Jerez. “Honestly, the fans are excited. We definitely have the best fan club. I saw so many fans with t-shirts and flags with my name on them. It’s really fun to race here,” concluded teammate Augusto Fernandez.
