Pedro Acosta gives an update on his surgery at the Sachsenring: “The nerve was under a lot of pressure”

Following a difficult race weekend at Assen, Pedro Acosta heads to the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring with mixed feelings. The KTM factory rider was forced to retire early from the Grand Prix in the Netherlands and subsequently underwent surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Ahead of the eleventh MotoGP weekend of the season, one question is therefore at the forefront: is the 22-year-old fit enough to be competitive again?

Acosta appeared cautiously optimistic on Thursday afternoon. “The operation was fairly straightforward. Everything looks as though it went well. The doctors saw that the nerve was under quite a lot of pressure. So things should get better now,” explained the Spaniard. In his view, the first signs point to an improvement: “I no longer wake up at night because I can’t feel my fingers. That’s looking pretty good already. But we’ll have to wait and see what the doctors say at the medical check-up.”

The immediate aftermath of the procedure also appears to be manageable. “I hope the stitches will be removed this afternoon. Otherwise, everything’s fine,” reported Acosta.

How competitive is KTM at the Sachsenring?

Despite the positive developments, the KTM rider is deliberately keeping his expectations low. “We mustn’t have any expectations. First of all, I have to pass the medical check this afternoon. Then I’ll be on the bike on Friday and will see how I feel,” he said.

He is encouraged by the Sachsenring’s layout: “I don’t think this track, with its many left-hand bends, will put too much strain on my hand. But you never know.” On the sporting front, Acosta is keen to make a statement once more before the summer break. “We need a good weekend so that we can say the first half of the season was acceptable. The last two Grands Prix were really tough – because of the technical problems and my physical condition at Assen. Now it’s time for a fresh start. The Sachsenring has usually been a track that suits the KTMs quite well. Let’s see what’s possible.”

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As well as his physical condition, KTM are still grappling with the technical difficulties of recent weeks. Acosta, however, expects the manufacturer to get the problems under control soon. “I haven’t spoken to KTM about it yet. But it’s no secret that we’re having these problems. Things like this shouldn’t happen. At the moment, the team is channelling all its energy into reliability rather than further development – I think that’s what all manufacturers are doing at the moment. It should be sorted out here or, at the latest, after the summer break. In any case, things are looking pretty promising for this weekend.”

Upcoming move to Ducati no distraction

When asked about the recently announced change to his racing future, Acosta assured that this was not distracting him from his current task. “I’ve actually always been quick and have achieved my goal of regularly finishing in the top five. The announcements haven’t changed that. To be honest, I was more nervous when it was announced that I was joining MotoGP at all. At the moment, I’m doing a good job with the things I can control myself.”

Despite the move to Ducati already being confirmed, his focus remains entirely on KTM. “I’m really looking forward to this new opportunity. But at the moment, my mind is on KTM and I’ll be giving 100 per cent until the end of the season. My first MotoGP win will come sooner or later. At the moment it’s more difficult because of our problems, but we’ll give it our all right to the end.”

Acosta had conciliatory words to say about his impending departure from KTM. “I wouldn’t say I’m leaving a part of my life behind. I’ll cherish wonderful memories of these six years at KTM. And I think that KTM also has a good chance of a fresh start with the riders who are coming in.” Next year, the KTM factory team will field Alex Márquez and Fabio di Giannantonio.