Pedro Acosta may have just clinched his maiden MotoGP victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, but he's already picking his title favourite: Marc Marquez. The KTM rider believes Marquez's experience and championship pedigree make him the man to beat in 2026.
Acosta's win at the Red Bull Ring propelled him to fourth in the standings, 72 points adrift of leader Jorge Martin. Despite the gap, Acosta remains optimistic. "I'm still far, but not so far from the top three, so I'm happy about that," he said.
Marc Marquez briefly led the championship after Aragon, but now trails Martin by 12 points. Martin's Aprilia teammate, Marco Bezzecchi, sits third, 42 points back. With eight rounds and 296 points still up for grabs, the title fight is far from over.
Acosta, who will partner Marquez at Ducati in 2027, didn't hesitate when asked who he sees as the title favourite. "Marc should win the championship. He's the guy who has won more championships, has more experience. For this, I put my money on him," he told MotoGP.com.
The season resumes next weekend in Japan, a track where Acosta has shown promise. In his rookie 2024 season, he contended for victory at Motegi, taking a Sprint podium and leading the grand prix for the opening ten laps before fading and running through the gravel.
With momentum from his Austrian triumph, Acosta is determined to close the gap to the top three. "Now starts a good moment for us, going to Asia," he added. He hopes to be competitive at Motegi and reduce the points deficit.
Meanwhile, Marquez and Martin are expected to continue their fierce battle. Both possess speed and experience, but Acosta believes Marquez's savvy will ultimately prevail. The championship battle is heating up, and Acosta is ready to play his part.
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