Pedro Acosta Harsh on Himself After Sepang MotoGP Test 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pedro Acosta says he already knows which bike specification he wants to commit to going forward with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing following the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test, despite delivering an unexpectedly critical assessment of his own performance.

The Austrian manufacturer KTM has taken a notable step forward with the development of its 2026 machine over the winter, introducing several major upgrades compared to last season. Across three days at the Sepang International Circuit, KTM riders evaluated a new chassis, revised aerodynamic packages, and alternative swingarm configurations on the RC16.

KTM consistently featured near the top of the timesheets throughout the test, with Acosta finishing eighth overall after setting his best lap on Wednesday. However, he explained that extensive back-to-back chassis comparisons limited his ability to fully exploit a time attack on new tyres during Thursday’s running.

“Quite happy,” Acosta said.
“I had to back-to-back check two chassis again in the morning, and this caused me not to be as fast as I wanted on new tyres.”

“But anyway, I’m quite convinced about which bike I want for the Thailand test.”

Beyond single-lap performance, Acosta highlighted the importance of long-run simulations carried out by KTM to assess competitiveness against rival manufacturers, describing the overall programme as productive from a development standpoint.

“There were also some long runs to see how we compare to other brands,” he added.
“For that, it was quite a productive day.”

Acosta also revealed that KTM appears to have addressed the tyre-wear issues that affected its 2025 campaign, although he acknowledged that new areas have emerged that still require deeper understanding and refinement before the season begins.

“It looks like it’s coming better,” he said of tyre wear.
“Everything is becoming more stable, and you don’t have many surprises.”

“It’s true that there are still things on the bike that we have to fix and understand where they are coming from. But honestly, it was a really positive three days of testing.”

Despite the encouraging progress shown by KTM, Acosta rated his own Sepang test performance at just six out of ten, underlining the high standards he is setting as MotoGP heads toward the final pre-season test in Thailand.

“I would say a six out of ten,” Acosta concluded.

With a clearer technical direction now established, KTM and Acosta head to Buriram with a more defined RC16 package. The Thailand test will be the final opportunity to validate those choices before locking in specifications for the 2026 MotoGP season.