KTM Team Leader pedro acosta Says he’s a more mature rider as he reaches the end of his second season in MotoGP. It takes a smart run to another place Indonesian Grand Prix last weekend.
While the Spaniard’s raw speed has once again been plain for all to see as KTM’s resurgence begins czech grand prix In July, he has fallen at inopportune moments and has struggled with tire management in recent races.
At Mandalika, however, the 21-year-old factory rider manipulated the Indonesian GP to his advantage. He took maximum advantage of his bike’s straight line speed and braking performance to slow down the pace while sitting in second place midway through the race.
while it meant fermin aldeguer While Acosta was able to push for a win that clearly wasn’t realistic for him, it allowed KTM to enter the final part of the race with healthy rubber.
Acosta lost second place for a few laps at two-thirds distance, and was as low as fourth. alex rinse And Alex Marquez At the end of lap 22 of 27. But his intact tires meant he was able to retake second late in the race, setting his best lap with just three laps to go – much later than those around him.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Photo by: Sonny Tumbelak/AFP via Getty Images
“I’m becoming a better rider since the beginning of the year,” Acosta reflected afterwards. “I think now I’m getting a little more mature than I did last year. Now, I’m more or less consistently in the top five as well (because of this).
“I feel like I’m riding better races. The rookie mistakes I was making at the beginning of the season are gone. I’m more consistent in being faster. We’re getting better.”
Asked what KTM still needs to do to turn podium pace into victory pace, the widely optimistic Acosta pointed to the bike’s lack of feeling at the front.
“We know something is happening to the front of the bike because we are not turning. We are not getting any help from the front.
“Many of the accidents we have are because we have no reaction (in this area). It’s quite difficult to know now, but KTM is working on it.
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