Pedro Acosta didn’t take long to make a splash in MotoGP. The Red Bull GasGas Tech3 rookie stood on the podium in just his second Grand Prix, and even during less successful periods, he continued to show his ability to compete at the top. Jonas Folger has taken notice and did not hesitate to praise the young Spaniard.
According to Motosan.es, the German told SPEEDWEEK.com: ‘You can see his talent and that he rides with complete freedom. He doesn’t think much about it, he rides purely on instinct, and he stays ahead when he attacks. He manages to push certain limits without suffering a serious crash’.
For Folger, what Acosta is doing in 2024 is comparable to Marc Márquez’s journey with Repsol Honda: ‘What Marc Márquez did for a long time with Honda, he [Acosta] is now doing with GasGas. He approaches things with a joy and calmness that perhaps a veteran MotoGP rider no longer has. He exploits his advantages. He is currently in a process of change’.
Acosta’s adaptation was quick, and KTM’s test rider emphasized that this is a characteristic of highly talented riders: ‘As a good rider with exceptional talent, it takes you relatively little time to adapt. This was also the case for Fabio Quartararo at the time, which is what a rider of that level brings with him. If someone prevails in Moto2, then they are capable of competing in MotoGP’.