Marquez was able to use the strength of the Ducati in the front straight to hold position over his compatriot, while Acosta was sharper on corner entry. It created a fascinating battle because, while Acosta seemed the faster of the two, Marquez was able to stay within range to retaliate on the straight whenever Acosta was able to pass \u2013 at least before his physical condition began to take its toll in the final laps.<\/p>\n
![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gng_1320168_hires.jpg\")
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Pedro Acosta leads Marc Marquez, 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold & Goose<\/p>\n
The battle was one that MotoGP<\/a> needs more of, Acosta thinks, his race with Marquez happening in stark contrast to the race at the front between Marco Bezzecchi<\/a> and Francesco Bagnaia<\/a>, who passed each other twice before Bagnaia faded in the final third of the race.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cI hope the fans enjoyed it on TV,\u201d Pedro Acosta said of his battle with Marquez.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the championship needs more races like this one to create the [excitement].\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, from the inside it was good. It was quite nice. Good passes, really good battle with Marc [Marquez].\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was able to spend a lot of time behind him and be able to see how he is managing the pace with all the experience that he has, knowing it was a going to be a hard one. For this, satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n Pedro Acosta, 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/p>\n \u00a9\u00a0Gold & Goose<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to battle with Marc. At the end, I tried to pass him one time, he passed me back, and then I spent some laps behind him, just trying to understand what he was doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was knowing that sooner or later the guys that were behind me were going to catch me \u2013 it\u2019s what happens every race, it\u2019s nothing new.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was just trying to understand what Marc was doing different than me, trying his lines that here in Mugello, these turns eight and nine are much easier when you are behind somebody.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite interesting to go behind Marc and see what he was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Enea Bastianini leads Pedro Acosta, 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix, Sprint. Credit: Gold and\u2026<\/p>\n \u00a9\u00a0Gold & Goose<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Acosta seemed to be losing out most on the straight compared to Marquez on the Ducati. After the races in the Americas Acosta thought KTM had improved in this area, but since the return to Europe KTM\u2019s lack of straight line performance has returned to something more like that which was evident in Thailand.<\/p>\n \u201cToday we know more or less that we were going to miss it [top speed],\u201d Acosta said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true that now it\u2019s time to check the data with the team and try to understand why again \u2013 after Brazil and America it as looking slightly better \u2013 we are struggling again.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gng_1317686_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Enea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gng_1319251_hires.jpg\")
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