The ongoing drama surrounding KTM’s rider selection for the 2024 has taken another unexpected turn. Despite earlier indications, it now seems that Moto2 sensation Pedro Acosta’s promotion to MotoGP is not as certain as previously believed.
For a significant part of the season, it appeared that Tech3 Gas Gas rider Augusto Fernandez was the most probable candidate to be left out of KTM’s MotoGP line-up, given the team’s contractual obligations to five riders for only four available seats. Recent performances and speculations had also cast a shadow over Jack Miller’s position due to his inconsistent form.
However, one aspect that seemed certain was the inclusion of Pedro Acosta, the prodigious Moto2 talent, in the 2024 MotoGP roster. This urgency was primarily driven by the need to promote him to the premier class. But, in a recent interview during the Japanese Grand Prix, Acosta revealed that his MotoGP future is now up in the air.
Acosta’s comments came in response to a question about the 2024 calendar, where he emphasized his desire to move to MotoGP, believing it to be the right step at this juncture in his career. He expressed his discontent at the idea of spending another year in Moto2.
KTM’s factory team boss, Francesco Guidotti, during an interview, mentioned that the team’s primary focus is on the upcoming championship and that decisions regarding the 2024 line-up would be made “sooner or later.” He hinted at a possible announcement by November.
The delay and uncertainty are evidently unsettling for Acosta, who is currently in contention for the Moto2 title. His meteoric rise in the Moto3 championship in 2021, where he clinched the title in his debut season, has led many to compare him to the likes of Marc Marquez.
KTM had previously indicated Acosta’s promotion to MotoGP in 2024, even though Pit Beirer, KTM’s director of motorsport, would have preferred him to stay in Moto2 for another year. KTM’s attempts to secure more spots on the grid for the next season were thwarted by Dorna, the series promoter. Subsequent efforts to collaborate with Honda’s satellite team, LCR, also did not materialize.
With Pol Espargaro’s return post-injury and Fernandez’s commendable recent performances, the spotlight shifted to Miller’s position in the team. Brad Binder, KTM’s primary MotoGP contender since 2020, remains the only rider with a seemingly secure spot.
Rumors also suggest that KTM was exploring the possibility of increasing the number of wildcard races to provide Miller with an extended test rider role, ensuring he retains a MotoGP salary.