KTM asks for calm: "We cannot demand that Acosta repeat what Raúl did"

Most of the media, fans and enlightened people on duty were betting on Pedro Acosta to win in his debut in the middle class and become Moto2 world champion even before the season started.

However, the start of the phenomenal Murcian rider, Moto3 champion in his first year in the World Championship, is being more earthy than the very high previous expectations indicated.

Acosta is still in the process of taming Moto2 and has already accumulated five crashes in practice, while in the race the Ajo-KTM team rider has made more than satisfactory progress, improving his results at each appointment: he was 12th in Qatar , 9th in Indonesia and 7th in Argentina , always penalized for having to start far back on the grid. The first podium, or even victory, is only a matter of time.

The problem comes when the comparisons come. Acosta, in his first year in the World Championship, last year in Moto3, made his debut with a podium in Qatar and chained three consecutive victories, completing the year with six wins and the title as a rookie.

In addition, the one from Puerto de Mazarrón , has made the leap to the Ajo Moto2 team, where last year Remy Gardner, who was world champion with five wins, and Raúl Fernández, who as a rookie swept eight wins and seven poles, rode. that were not enough to snatch the crown from the Australian.

Specifically, Raúl, who last year was, like Acosta now, a rookie in the category, achieved twelve podiums (the first in his second race), seven poles and won eight times, the first in Portugal , in his third grand prix. in the middle class, later prevailing in France, the Netherlands, Austria, Aragon, San Marino, Austin and Valencia.

“Raúl and Remy are two exceptional riders, but with Acosta we also have an exceptional rider again this year in Moto2,” says Pit Beirer , sporting director of KTM, in conversation with Speedweek .

“I have a lot of confidence in Pedro, he has all my credit. He will definitely become a very strong rider,” adds the former motocross rider involved in executive duties.

“But what Raúl did last year, with his eight wins as a rookie, we can’t ask all rookies now. We shouldn’t set the bar so high,” the Austrian asked calmly.

“We are going to see great races in Moto2 with Pedro Acosta this year as well, the pre-season tests and some training sessions during the grand prix prove it,” he stresses.

Some good results that, as everything indicates, can come and, in that case, put the Murcian in the competition to make the leap to MotoGP in 2023.

“Yes, that can happen, but I’d rather have that ‘problem’ than deal with a situation where we just had bad riders,” settled the KTM boss.

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