Pedro Acosta has once again become the center of attention after the 2026 MotoGP season. The Spanish rider is credited as the difference-maker keeping KTM competitive despite the RC16's fundamental weakness. KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer even admitted that his team often wonders how Acosta can be so fast in an area that is the bike's Achilles' heel.
KTM started the 2026 season brilliantly. Acosta won the opening Sprint in Buriram and led the championship until the fourth race in Brazil. However, since then, Aprilia and Ducati have dominated. KTM has had to deal with engine reliability issues and has gradually fallen behind, though they remain third best in the constructors' standings, well ahead of Honda and Yamaha.
Beirer revealed that the RC16's main weakness lies in the crucial moment of corner entry. "Simple, but not easy to fix. It always happens when we turn and release the brake," he said. "The riders say, 'The others can look where they want to go, their bike follows, while we still struggle to turn.' That's where we need to improve."
The impact of this problem is a chain reaction. If the bike can't turn well, riders struggle to place the tire in the ideal position for acceleration. "We miss drive, but it's not a lack of power. We're in the wrong position to accelerate," Beirer explained. "So that crucial moment when you release the brake and turn is what we need to get better."
Nevertheless, Acosta has been able to mask this weakness. He has scored eight podiums this season, putting him fifth in the championship and still within reach of his target of a top-three finish. He is the only KTM rider inside the top 11. Beirer emphasized that Acosta contributes greatly precisely at the bike's weakest point. "He helps the bike the most to open earlier and turn. He's incredibly strong on the brakes and still makes his turning happen. We wonder sometimes on the data, how he does it," Beirer praised.
With the rest of the season still long, KTM hopes to quickly overcome the RC16's weakness. Meanwhile, Acosta continues to show his class as one of the best riders on the grid, proving that individual talent can make a big difference even when the bike isn't perfect. (Reported by Crash.net)
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