Pedro Acosta Discusses Narrow Loss in Portuguese MotoGP Sprint

Portimao, Portugal – KTM’s Pedro Acosta revealed that he lost the chance to win the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix sprint due to the weakness of his bike compared to rival Alex Marquez’s Ducati. The 21-year-old finished second in the thrilling 12-lap sprint on Saturday.

Acosta secured his first front-row start of the 2025 season with a second-place grid position during qualifying. Despite a strong performance throughout the race, he fell short against Gresini’s Marquez, who edged him out in the final corner.

“It was maybe the most exciting sprint race in the whole season for the fans,” said Acosta in an interview with TNT Sport. “I think it’s not a question mark that I gave everything I had in my hands.”

At one point, Acosta was just 0.1 seconds from victory. He acknowledged that while he could attack under braking with his KTM, it was the corner at the end of the lap that cost him the race. “That last corner is where I lost the opportunity to fight for more,” he added.

Tyre wear has been a significant challenge for KTM this season, and Acosta noted that it could also be a concern for all riders in the Grand Prix on Sunday due to limited mileage with the rear options. “I think it will be a question mark for everyone, because no one has done a lot of laps on the rear tyres,” he said.

Acosta expressed gratitude towards his team for their continued efforts to improve the bike. “They are really trying hard to give me a better bike. But like I said, it is what it is now. We have to keep going,” he stated.