Acosta on MotoGP rivalries: “I’ve never had any friends in the paddock”

The days of bitter rivalries between the big stars seem to be largely over in MotoGP. Many riders get on well with one another, train together or even spend time together away from the track. Pedro Acosta takes a different approach.

The Spaniard makes no secret of the fact that he deliberately keeps a certain distance from his rivals. In an interview with Autosport, Acosta was asked whether, given his behaviour, he felt like the black sheep in the MotoGP paddock. “Perhaps. Or perhaps I’m simply the one who isn’t following the prevailing trend,” replied Acosta.

Why Acosta doesn’t believe in MotoGP friendships

The 22-year-old has no fundamental problem with exchanging views with his rivals. However, he finds it hard to imagine a genuine friendship developing between direct rivals. “I understand that most riders have a close relationship with one another and you can have a chat with anyone. But we’re all here because we’re chasing the same dream,” explained the Spaniard.

Pedro Acosta

Foto: Gold & Goose

For Acosta, this is precisely where the crucial contradiction lies. Every MotoGP rider wants to win races and, ultimately, become world champion. He therefore considers it unrealistic to maintain a completely sincere friendship with someone who is pursuing the same goal on the track. “It’s very hard to have an honest relationship with someone who wants exactly the same thing as you. To make his dream come true, this rival would be capable of killing anyone – at least in a sporting sense,” Acosta explained dramatically.

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For the KTM rider, therefore, a clear separation is the better solution. “If I can’t be honest with you, I’d rather take a step back and keep a certain distance.” This attitude has characterised Acosta’s entire Grand Prix career. “I’ve never had any friends in the paddock, and I’m glad about that,” the 2021 Moto3 World Champion made clear.

Is MotoGP lacking a bit of ‘spice’?

The reason for this becomes clear on the racetrack, if not before. Personal relationships should not influence his decisions in a head-to-head battle. “That way, I have no qualms about overtaking someone,” explained Acosta. The Spaniard even believes that today’s MotoGP lacks some of the personal rivalry that characterised earlier eras. As examples, he cited some of the most famous duels in Grand Prix history.

“The great rivalries of the past – Rossi versus Biaggi, Criville versus Doohan, Rossi versus Márquez – were not straightforward relationships,” recalled Acosta. In his view, it was precisely these tensions that added extra spice. “Perhaps that is the key ingredient that MotoGP is currently lacking.”

Acosta is thus deliberately bucking the trend towards a more harmonious paddock. That doesn’t rule out respect and conversations with his rivals. When it comes to genuine friendships, however, the Spaniard draws a clear line: for him, anyone pursuing the same dream remains, ultimately, one thing above all else – a rival. It will be interesting to see how this approach affects the atmosphere in the Ducati paddock. Next year, Acosta will be the new team-mate of MotoGP superstar Marc Márquez.