Pedro Acosta Doubles Down On MotoGP Step-Up - Ultimatum For KTM?
Pedro Acosta does not believe in staying in Moto2 beyond 2023. The Spaniard is pushing hard for MotoGP – even without KTM?
With a World Championship title already in his pocket and in contention for the Moto2 crown in 2023, Pedro Acosta is shaping up to be THE hottest potatoe in MotoGP’s silly season 2023.
With the summer break just around the corner, the Spaniard and his manager Alber Valera are pushing hard for a step up into MotoGP.
Staying in Moto2 beyond the 2023 season is “not an option”, Valera declared after the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.
With back-to-back victories in Italy and Germany behind him, Acosta comes to the Dutch GP in second place, fifteen points behind championship leader Tony Arbolino.
In an interview with motogp.com on Thursday, the 19-year-old doubles down on a step up to MotoGP and confirms the quite brash statements of his manager.
“Moto2 is not an option. If we continue fighting for the championship in Moto2 this year, I think that we are ready for MotoGP.”
The Spaniard is aware of his talent and how much KTM would like to keep the 2021 Moto3 World Champion within their own structure.
However, the current contract situation in MotoGP does not make it easy for the Austrians. With both factory riders on the podium more and more regularly, things are going well.
In addition, both Brad Binder, Jack Miller and GasGas customer team rider Pol Espargaro are under contract until the end of 2024.
An Ultimatum In Disguise?
A seat in the factory team in 2024 seems out of the question, and vacancies in the Tech3 GasGas customer team are also scarce.
Rookie Augusto Fernandez shows amazing pace on his RC-16 setting a highlight fourth-place finish at Le Mans.
The Spanish rider is only contracted until the end of 2023, but after last year’s Tech3 rookie fiasco involving Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, KTM Motorsport Director actually promised new rookies at least two years.
Finding a seat for Acosta might be difficult for KTM, but do they want to risk losing the wonder boy? Although Acosta is very grateful for their years of cooperation and support, he is still making a kind of ultimatum in disguise and puts KTM on the spot for the summer break.
“They have four bikes and the four riders they have are fast, so they have to look for different ways. I believe in them.”
