Pedro Acosta Says KTM RC16 2026 Better Suits His Riding Style

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing arrives at the Spanish MotoGP 2026 in Jerez with a marked improvement in consistency, underpinned by technical evolution of the KTM RC16 that he believes is now more aligned with his riding profile.

Acosta’s early-season performance reflects a structural step forward compared to 2025, particularly in race stability and control. He became the first KTM rider to lead the championship standings after the Thai Grand Prix, following a Sprint victory and a second-place finish in the main race. That momentum continued with a podium in the United States, keeping him within the top three of the standings behind the factory Aprilia Racing duo of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.

The primary limitation in Acosta’s 2025 campaign was inconsistency driven by repeated crashes, particularly in the opening phase of the season. KTM’s development direction over the winter shifted focus away from peak performance gains toward improving rider comfort and predictability. This recalibration has translated into greater race pace consistency and a reduction in errors.

Baca JugaJorge Martin Kena Penalti Grid Usai Insiden Jerez 2026

“We made a very good step this winter, between the Valencia test and Sepang,” Acosta stated, as reported by Motorsport.com’s Spanish edition.

“I asked for very clear things, not to go faster, to be more comfortable and avoid crashes.”

According to Acosta, this improved comfort has directly enhanced his ability to sustain competitive pace over full race distance, allowing him to manage tyre degradation and maintain rhythm more effectively.

“Now, in a 27-lap race I can push for 24 laps and survive the rest. It gives me much more pace, it gives me confidence and I make fewer mistakes. That has been the big step from last year to now.”

He further indicated that the 2026 RC16 configuration has moved closer to his personal technical preferences, including aspects such as load distribution, chassis feedback, and electronic response.

“Yes, it is possible that it is a bike more designed for me.”

Despite this progress, KTM still faces a measurable performance deficit relative to its main championship rivals. With the 1000cc MotoGP era concluding at the end of the season, development continues in parallel with preparation for the 2027 regulations. Acosta confirmed that additional updates are expected during the post-race test at Jerez.

“I think there will be something new, whether it works or not, we will see.”

“These are very logical things, which we should have had for a long time, but they have arrived now.”

From a performance standpoint, Acosta estimates that KTM has significantly reduced its deficit compared to last season, although the remaining gap remains critical over race distance.

“To be honest, it’s not that we are half a second off like last year. We are missing one-and-a-half to two tenths, but over 27 laps that makes a big difference. We have to close that gap little by little and see how far we go.”

With improved stability and a development approach increasingly tailored to rider requirements, KTM has made measurable progress in addressing the RC16’s previous limitations. However, the effectiveness of upcoming updates will be decisive in determining whether the manufacturer can challenge Ducati and Aprilia during the critical phase of the 2026 season, before full attention shifts toward the MotoGP 2027 transition.