Pedro Acosta's MotoGP Journey: From Frustration to Excellence
In an exclusive interview, KTM crew chief Paul Trevathan reveals the remarkable transformation of Pedro Acosta from a frustrated and angry rider to a beautiful and consistent performer in the 2025 MotoGP season.
Acosta's title ambitions were dashed early on due to KTM's financial crisis, which hindered the development of the RC16. This led to a frustrating period where Acosta struggled to find his footing, pushing the bike beyond its limits.
However, behind the scenes, crucial elements were falling into place. A post-Qatar reset, arm pump surgery, a new rider coach, and a breakthrough at the Jerez test all contributed to a significant turnaround.
Trevathan explains, "A lot of frustration... at the beginning, where things were not going like we expected. Pedro had such high expectations, and then he just lost the plot. He couldn't understand. He didn't want to listen. He was super, super frustrated."
The team decided to reset their approach, focusing on consistency and top-five finishes. Acosta embraced this change, and his performance soared. Trevathan praises Acosta's maturity and determination, stating, "He's taking the maximum out of the bike. He's pushing us like you wouldn't believe in the garage every session, every day."
The results speak for themselves. Acosta's first half of the season was podium-less, but he finished the year with twelve rostrums and a fourth-place finish in the world championship.
Trevathan highlights the team's efforts, "We scratched and did everything we could to try to find a way. But maybe got a little bit lost and tried too hard... Then we kind of lost the way."
The turning point came after the Doha round, followed by a significant improvement after the Jerez test. Acosta's arm pump problem was addressed, and he received guidance from Carmelo Morales, who joined Mika Kallio as his rider coach.
Trevathan concludes, "He also started to really work on himself, fixing the little riding faults that he was maybe doing. Trying to make himself more rounded. And slowly, step by step, things got better and better."
