Today’s Sprint race didn’t bring much joy to Pedro Acosta, as the young Spaniard expressed his growing discomfort with losing, especially as the years pass. He pointed out that seasoned riders like Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín, who possess deep knowledge of MotoGP’s nuances, ultimately displayed better race management skills.
During the post-race press session, when asked about his satisfaction with the level of competitiveness, Acosta’s response was candidly lukewarm: “No, not really. Today we were so close, yet it felt like we were also so far away. Anyway, I don’t like losing, and that feeling seems to intensify every year.”
Despite his disappointment, Acosta highlighted the positive aspects of the day: “Nevertheless, we did see some promising signs. It was the first time we were truly quick in qualifying, and for a significant portion of the race, we found ourselves in contention for a podium finish.”
Reflecting on the performance of Márquez and Martín, Acosta recognized their strategic prowess: “In the end, Marc and Jorge were more astute than me. They have a real knack for reading the race, knowing when to push, when to make overtakes, and all the other nuances. However, it’s a learning curve for us, and competing against such world-class riders will only make me stronger.”
Acosta’s words reveal a mixture of frustration with the result, determination to improve, and respect for the seasoned veterans of MotoGP. It’s clear that each race serves as a valuable lesson for the talented young rider as he navigates the challenges of the premier class of motorcycle racing.
The Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider then elaborated on the challenges he faces managing a MotoGP weekend, especially with the addition of the Sprint race on Saturdays: “It’s quite challenging for me, coming from 15 years of long-distance races, to suddenly have just a Saturday for qualifying. Besides FP2, it’s straight to qualifying and then adding the Sprint race… It’s a different approach.”
He continued, “Usually, in a full-length race, you have to strategize, manage your pace, and all the usual aspects we are familiar with. But when you have a Sprint that’s half the distance, it changes things. You have ten intense laps, wide open until the end, and that’s it. Perhaps you can maintain 95 per cent for most of the race and then push to 100 per cent in those crucial three laps. That’s the key to the race, and it’s something that Marc and Jorge excel at. They understand it very well, and they were smarter than me in that aspect.”
Acosta’s explanation sheds light on the shift in mindset required for the Sprint race format, where a different kind of strategy and approach to intensity is crucial. It’s evident that adapting to this condensed format presents a learning curve for him, especially when competing against seasoned riders who have mastered this tactical aspect of MotoGP racing.
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