MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pedro Acosta and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing arrive at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix leading the standings, as his recent remarks about “not supposed to be leading” were formally clarified by team management.
Acosta secured a sprint victory and a second-place finish in the main race at the Thai Grand Prix, elevating him to the top of the championship standings for the first time in his MotoGP career. The result represents a significant turnaround for KTM, following a difficult first half of the 2025 season before establishing consistent podium form in the latter stages.
Speaking ahead of the Goiania weekend, Acosta’s statement suggesting that he and KTM “shouldn’t be leading” drew widespread attention. However, Team Manager Aki Ajo clarified that the comment reflected a strategic mindset focused on realistic targets rather than any doubt over performance.
“I think it was a little bit out of context,” Ajo said to the official MotoGP broadcast.
“I think it was more that this was not the plan. The plan was to start, especially in his case, with a different mindset and not set the target too high, but to focus on consistent work with realistic expectations.”
The clarification underlines KTM’s structured approach to early-season development, particularly in managing pressure on a young rider like Acosta. The emphasis remains on consistency, data accumulation, and progressive performance gains rather than immediate championship expectations.
“If you are leading without targeting it, we need to take this positively,” Ajo added.
From a technical perspective, Ajo admitted that KTM’s performance in Thailand exceeded initial expectations, although it reflects genuine progress made with the RC16 package over the winter. Key improvements were identified in cornering performance and tyre life—two critical areas that defined KTM’s development priorities.
“Maybe we didn’t expect exactly such a strong result in Thailand, but it was the result of many factors working together,” Ajo explained.
“We improved in some key areas from last year, especially the turning of the bike and tyre life.”
The Buriram circuit is known for its high demands on tyre degradation and thermal management. KTM’s progress in tyre cooling played a decisive role in sustaining race pace, particularly in long-run conditions where consistency becomes a differentiating factor.
However, these gains have introduced technical trade-offs, particularly in top speed performance. Ajo confirmed that significant aerodynamic revisions contributed to a compromise that now requires further optimisation.
“If you improve something like this, it affects other areas. We made many changes to the aero, and it impacts top speed,” he stated.
“Everything is a compromise, so now we need to understand how to improve both areas where new developments are influencing performance.”
This balance between aerodynamic efficiency, drag, and tyre preservation reflects the broader engineering challenges in modern MotoGP. KTM’s current phase focuses on refining that equilibrium across varying circuit characteristics.
With only two rounds completed, Acosta’s position at the top of the standings remains an early indicator rather than a definitive measure of competitive hierarchy. Ajo emphasised that a clearer benchmark will emerge during the European leg of the season, particularly at circuits such as Jerez, where conditions allow for more direct comparison between manufacturers.
MotoGP now transitions toward the European rounds, where the consistency of Pedro Acosta and the development trajectory of KTM will become central to shaping the 2026 title battle.
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