Pedro Acosta Faces Old Issues in Tough Jerez MotoGP 2026 Day

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing described Friday at the 2026 Spanish MotoGP in Jerez as a difficult day after previously resolved issues resurfaced.

The Spanish rider was repeatedly seen struggling under braking during practice, running wide on several occasions, with rear instability appearing to be a key limitation. The problem was particularly notable given that braking stability had been a focus area for improvement during the off-season.

Acosta explained that the issues felt similar to those experienced in 2025, suggesting that the characteristics of the Jerez circuit may be exposing underlying weaknesses in the KTM package. The situation left him unable to maintain consistent pace throughout the session.

Baca JugaChristian Horner Terlihat di Paddock MotoGP Jerez 2026

“It was a tough day for sure,” Acosta told MotoGP.com, as reported by Crash.net.

“This can happen, but now it’s time to understand what is going wrong. It’s difficult to understand because we have the same problems as last year, so now it’s time to analyse.”

He further emphasized the unexpected nature of the issue, given the progress made over the winter.

“It’s quite strange because braking stability was the area we improved the most during the winter,” he added.

Acosta also suggested that the issue could be circuit-specific, noting that he has consistently experienced similar difficulties at Jerez since joining MotoGP.

“We need to understand why I always have this feeling at this track since I arrived in MotoGP. It’s just a matter of time before we solve it,” he said.

While other riders, including Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing, also reported recurring issues, Bezzecchi still managed to finish third. In contrast, Acosta ended the day 15th and failed to secure direct entry into Q2.

As a result, Acosta will need to progress through Q1, where competition is expected to be particularly intense due to the number of fast riders outside the top ten.

“First of all, we need to get through Q1 to Q2,” he stated.

“That makes everything more difficult because there are many fast riders outside the top ten. The target is to make Q2, and then we will try to be as far forward as possible.”

With technical concerns still unresolved, qualifying will be critical for Acosta’s weekend. KTM’s ability to diagnose and address the issue overnight will play a decisive role in determining whether he can recover competitiveness as the 2026 Spanish MotoGP progresses.