Pedro Acosta, the Tech3 GasGas rider, chose to praise the Spanish fans instead of focusing on his position in the championship standings after finishing in second place in the chaotic Jerez MotoGP Sprint. The race in Jerez was tricky due to the dry track with wet patches from the previous rain, resulting in 15 out of 25 riders suffering crashes at some point. Acosta, a rookie sensation, managed to navigate the challenging conditions and move up from 10th on the starting grid to secure second place in the 12-lap race on Saturday. Speaking to MotoGP reporter Simon Crafar in front of an ecstatic Spanish crowd, Acosta acknowledged the difficulties of starting in 10th place, but expressed satisfaction with his overtaking and handling of the wet areas in turns 5 and 8. Despite his position in the championship, Acosta emphasized the joy of reaching the podium in front of passionate fans.
Although Pedro Acosta’s performance was impressive, he was unable to challenge the Sprint winner and current championship leader, Jorge Martin. Martin benefited from Marc Marquez’s crash, who was in the lead. While Martin was pleased with his victory, he acknowledged that the Grand Prix on Sunday would present a different challenge if the weather remained consistent. Martin described the race as tough due to the demanding track conditions. He had a good start, but noticed Marquez closing in, eventually passing him after Martin made a mistake in turn 7. Martin tried to keep up with Marquez, but ended up capitalizing on Marquez’s error. Looking ahead to the expected dry conditions on Sunday, Martin anticipated a contrasting experience. Nevertheless, he expressed his joy at winning in Jerez and his overall happiness with the result.