Pedro Acosta\u2019s improved consistency in 2026 is partly down to a KTM MotoGP bike that is \u201cmore designed for me\u201d, the Murcian feels.<\/p>\n
Acosta became the first KTM rider to lead the MotoGP<\/a> riders\u2019 standings after the Thai Grand Prix, where he won the Sprint and finished second in the Sunday race.<\/p>\n Since then he\u2019s been back on the podium once more, finishing third in the US Grand Prix almost a month ago, and he arrives at this weekend\u2019s Spanish Grand Prix (24\u201326 April) still in the top-three in the standings, behind only the two factory Aprilia riders.<\/p>\n Acosta\u2019s biggest problem in 2025 was consistency. In the beginning of the year he crashed a lot, then he spent a while rebuilding his confidence, before ending the year with podiums in each of the last four Sprints and in three of the last five grands prix.<\/p>\n He\u2019s started this season with two podiums from the first three races and the other race, Brazil, he was much more competitive than the other KTM riders, who filled the last three positions on the grid while Acosta himself was in Q2 and finished both races in the top-10.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n His improved performance at the start of this year compared to the start of 2025 is down to improvements made with the KTM RC16, not to increase its performance potential but to make it more \u201ccomfortable\u201d, in the words of Acosta.<\/p>\n \u201cWe made a very good step this winter, between the Valencia test and Sepang [test],\u201d Pedro Acosta<\/a> said ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, as reported by the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked for very clear things, not to go faster, to be more comfortable and avoid crashes.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, in a 27-lap race I can push 24 and the rest survive.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is possible that it is a bike more designed for me.\u201d<\/p>\n The 1,000cc era of MotoGP is over at the end of this season and KTM looks unlikely to win this year\u2019s title. Development is ongoing, though, and Acosta says he expects updates during Monday\u2019s post-race test.<\/p>\n