The opening day of the MotoGP weekend at Phillip Island delivered an unexpected boost for Pedro Acosta as he safely secured a direct ticket into the Q2 qualifying session. The young Spanish rider demonstrated encouraging speed aboard his KTM factory machine by finishing the crucial practice session in an impressive eighth position.
His RC16 briefly leaped to the top of the timesheet with around 20 minutes remaining on the clock, clocking a lap time of 1:27,208 using fresh soft tires. Although he was pushed down the order in the closing stages just behind fellow stablemate Enea Bastianini—who ended up as the top manufacturer representative in seventh—the day’s overall outcome exceeded initial expectations.
"To be honest, it didn't go badly at all. I am happy, it went better than expected. I was quite fast at the beginning of practice. My race pace was good, and my first time attack went well too," explained Pedro Acosta when summarizing his Friday performance on track.
Despite the encouraging grid spot, the KTM squad still faces minor setup hurdles regarding machine stability, particularly through the challenging third sector. While single-lap flying runs still require refinement, the strong rhythm displayed during long stints provided massive encouragement for the Spanish sensation heading into the crucial weekend sessions.
"There is still room for improvement. A dry race here is normally very long, but my race pace was good," he emphasized, highlighting that his long-run performance provides a solid foundation for the grueling Grand Prix distance ahead.
Looking ahead at potential weather shifts, Pedro Acosta admitted he would welcome rain arriving overnight to shake up the competitive order. While victory might be a tall order, the young charger firmly believes a podium finish is within reach if everything clicks into place during the races.
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