Pedro Acosta (5th) on the tyre pressure drama – “We look like fools”

Anyone watching the Mandalika Grand Prix witnessed a spectacle in the battle for fourth place that, for long stretches, had little to do with racing. Pedro Acosta (KTM) and Marc Marquez (Ducati) kept swapping positions, though not in a head-to-head duel, but by mutual agreement.

At times, the KTM rider would glance over his shoulder and let the world champion pass; at other times, Marquez would do the same. Both were racing on the open track with low front tyre pressure, seeking the necessary heat dissipation in each other’s slipstream. Acosta clearly expressed his thoughts on the rule that has been under discussion for years: “We look like fools.”

The constant swapping of positions with Marc Marquez ultimately cost him fourth place

Yet the Spaniard had staged a strong comeback. With a spectacular manoeuvre at Turn 10, he pushed his way into the top seven early on; later, he also overtook Marc Marquez. But no sooner was Acosta in front than the tyre pressure problem began. “When I was at the back, it was fine. But when I was at the front, it was good at first, and then it wasn’t anymore,” he explained.

The constant back-and-forth cost him time, and Ai Ogura (Aprilia) closed in. In the closing stages, the Japanese rider overtook both of them. “That took away my chance of finishing in the top four,” said Acosta. In the end, he finished fifth, making him the highest-placed rider behind four Aprilia riders. Overall, things went better than in the sprint; they’d got the chattering under control, even though he continued to have problems in the second sector.

Regulations and new penalties infuriate Acosta

Acosta has a clear suggestion regarding the tyre pressure rule. “I understand that we should have a minimum pressure. But you can’t control what the others do,” he said, referring to Jorge Martin, who had unexpectedly led the Sprint without a rider in front of him. His solution: “We should have the minimum pressure checked on the grid before the start.” After that, it shouldn’t have any further impact on the race.

Topic of the week

A stuttering start to the Bahrain Grand Prix: the FIA narrowly avoids a fiasco like the one in Indianapolis in 2005

Fans could hardly believe their eyes at what they witnessed at the Bahrain Grand Prix: cars crawling along, racing cars that simply came to a standstill. The FIA narrowly avoided a fiasco like the one at Indy in 2005.

Read More

TV Program

Live

Phillip Island: International Stream

MotoGP World Championship

22.10.2026 - 23:55

He was even more forthright regarding a newly announced fine of 5,000 euros for missed promotional events. “I’m against it. You can’t force a rider to do anything,” Acosta made clear. As an example, he cited Raúl Fernández (Aprilia), who, with his broken fingers, has more important things to worry about.

Acosta issued a general warning: “The lads’ careers are getting shorter and shorter because of the stress we’re under.” However, he does not believe the riders will stand united in opposition. Everyone looks after their own interests, including teams and manufacturers.

In the World Championship standings, Ogura’s late attack cost him fourth place. With 258 points, however, Acosta is just one point behind the Trackhouse rider.

Willkommen zum Rennen in Mandalika

Foto: Gold & Goose

Pedro Acosta

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alex Márquez

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marco Bezzecchi

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marc Márquez

Foto: Gold & Goose

Start des Rennens

Foto: Gold & Goose

Jorge Martin

Foto: Gold & Goose

Ai Ogura und Pedro Acosta

Foto: Gold & Goose

Luca Marini

Foto: Gold & Goose

Raúl Fernández

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marco Bezzecchi

Foto: Gold & Goose

Quartararo und Binder

Foto: Gold & Goose

Ai Ogura und Marc Márquez

Foto: Gold & Goose

Enea Bastianini

Foto: Gold & Goose

Alex Márquez und Fabio Di Giannantonio

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marc Márquez und Pedro Acosta

Foto: Gold & Goose

Marco Bezzecchi gewinnt das Rennen

Foto: Gold & Goose

Sieger Marco Bezzecchi

Foto: Gold & Goose

Fernández, Bezzecchi, Martin

Foto: Gold & Goose

Sieger Marco Bezzecchi

Foto: Gold & Goose

Willkommen zum Rennen in Mandalika

© Gold & Goose