Pol Espargaró believes Pedro Acosta can claim his maiden MotoGP victory at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, with KTM’s home race at the Red Bull Ring offering the rookie his best chance yet of a first premier-class win.
Acosta, who has been affiliated with KTM since he was 16 years old, arrives at Spielberg still searching for that breakthrough victory. Espargaró, KTM’s test rider and a long-standing figure within the Austrian manufacturer, says the Red Bull Ring is the venue where it should finally happen.
Pedro Acosta Backed for Victory at Red Bull Ring
Espargaró made his prediction ahead of this weekend’s race, pointing directly to the Red Bull Ring as the track where Acosta’s chance is greatest. “I hope that this weekend is the weekend. If there is a place, it’s here,” he said.
The Red Bull Ring is KTM’s home circuit, and a maiden win there would carry extra weight for both rider and manufacturer. Espargaró’s comments set clear expectations for Acosta heading into the weekend, with the paddock watching closely to see whether the rookie can convert his pace into a first premier-class victory.
Espargaro Praises Acosta’s Form and Deserved Career Progress
Espargaró went further than simply naming a favourable venue. He argued that Acosta’s talent has long deserved recognition in the form of a race win. “I hope so. I think he deserves it. He should be winning much, much earlier. I didn’t win any race in my sports career, and I deserve a couple, he deserves much more than what he got. If he didn’t win, that doesn’t mean that he’s not good enough or he’s not good or he could be better,” he said.
Espargaró also rated Acosta among the very best riders on the current MotoGP grid. “He’s riding insane. He’s a very good rider. I believe it’s, if not the best rider in the category at the moment, it’s equal to the best rider in the category at the moment. So I think he’s going to get it soon,” he said.
That assessment reflects a level of respect Espargaró has built through years alongside Acosta at KTM, and it places significant expectation on the rookie as he approaches a track where he has genuine reason for optimism, following his setup adjustments in Misano.
KTM’s Battle Against Championship Leaders Ducati and Aprilia
Acosta himself acknowledged the gap KTM must close on the sport’s dominant manufacturers. He framed a potential Red Bull Ring win in the context of his long history with the Austrian brand and its current standing against Ducati and Aprilia.
“It will be the best way to finish a cycle. I have been at KTM since I was 16. I know everyone since I was a kid, and it will be the perfect way to finish history, knowing that we are far from fighting for the championship with these two [Ducati and Aprilia],” Acosta said.
The comments underline the scale of the task facing KTM as a manufacturer, even as its lead rider produces performances rated among the best in the field. That tension, between individual form and constructor competitiveness, has shaped much of the rivalry inside the paddock this season.
What Happens Next for Acosta and KTM at Austrian Grand Prix
Acosta was direct about what a home win would mean to him personally as the Austrian Grand Prix weekend unfolds at the Red Bull Ring. “If we get a victory here, it will be a dream come true and the best way to finish history,” he said.
Attention now turns to race day itself, where Acosta will look to translate Espargaró’s backing and his own confidence into a result on track. KTM’s home crowd will provide extra incentive, and the outcome at Spielberg is likely to shape how Acosta’s current chapter with the manufacturer is remembered, amid a wider season of recent MotoGP driver changes.
Neither Espargaró nor Acosta addressed longer-term plans beyond the race weekend, and no contractual details have been confirmed. For now, the focus remains squarely on whether Acosta can deliver the maiden victory his form has promised, in front of KTM’s own supporters, according to the Motorsport.com report on Espargaro’s quotes.
