Pedro Acosta, a rising star in the MotoGP world, is making waves by setting his sights on a different kind of record. In a recent interview, Acosta revealed that he is not solely focused on being the fastest KTM rider entering the 2026 MotoGP season. Instead, he's taking a more strategic approach, using his teammate, Brad Binder, as a benchmark for improvement.
Acosta's perspective is intriguing, especially considering Binder's performance last season. While Acosta dominated, securing consistent podium finishes and ending the year as the brand's sole podium finisher, Binder struggled, failing to score a single podium and finishing 152 points behind Acosta in the championship. Despite this, Acosta sees Binder as a valuable reference point.
"It all depends on how far or close you are," Acosta said during a media session at Buriram. "Now I compare myself to Binder because he has confidence. At the moment, he is the fastest KTM rider, and it is important to look at the fastest riders, even if it is difficult to make all the necessary comparisons during testing because maybe one rider is doing a different job from another."
Binder's own journey to finding his rhythm is a testament to Acosta's mindset. After a slow start to the pre-season, Binder's breakthrough came late in testing. He realized that a major set-up change was needed, and those adjustments proved to be the turning point. Binder's confidence grew as he made the necessary changes, ultimately leading to a more balanced RC16.
"Today was pretty much a day of two halves," Binder reflected last Sunday. "This morning was not great, but then I did the full race simulation in the afternoon, and it really confirmed my feelings that we need to change something with the set-up. After that, we ended up making a big change. I did the last time attack in the afternoon and things were much better. So, happy with that, and I’m looking forward to exploring this area more. It was really balance, we made a big shift in the balance and everything started to work better."
Acosta's approach to using Binder as a reference is a strategic one, focusing on improvement rather than solely on speed. As he prepares for the Thai Grand Prix, Acosta's mindset is one of growth and learning, using his teammate's strengths to enhance his own. This perspective not only showcases Acosta's maturity but also his commitment to pushing the boundaries of KTM's potential in MotoGP.
