Pedro Acosta’s remarkable MotoGP debut earned him praise from many, but none were as effusive as his team principal, Herve Poncharal.
MotoGP newcomer Pedro Acosta showcased a performance that will be etched in memory for years to come, engaging in fierce battles with seasoned riders such as Marc Marquez, Enea Bastianini, and Aleix Espargaro.
Managing to pass all three competitors at various points, Acosta found himself within mere tenths of challenging Jorge Martin for a podium finish before tire wear thwarted his chances of a significant result.
Nevertheless, Acosta’s debut left spectators breathless, and in a post-race moment captured on an unseen clip, the Spaniard was seen reflecting on his performance.
“I think we can be up there with Brad [Binder] again, aiming for the top ten, let’s say. Around 10th, 11th, 12th – that range, you know,” Acosta remarked.
“It’s not too bad for us. We do have a faster pace, but we’re lacking a bit on the quick lap, which is normal enough to have this.
“If we work on this and manage to get into Q2, that’s the most crucial thing. If we’re in the top ten, we can definitely fight for something.”
Before this discussion, Acosta was warmly greeted by his entire team after Sunday night’s race.
Directly addressing Acosta, Poncharal showered him with high praise, saying: “I love you! It was even better than you could have dreamed of.”
“You have the makings of a champion. What you did out there, you don’t even realize.”
Acosta’s crew chief chimed in, “Damn! You’re a freaking superstar! Look at how easy it is to make those overtakes.”
“Great job, mate. I was cheering for you,” added another team member.
In a burst of adrenaline-fueled excitement, Acosta shared with his team in the garage how the race unfolded.
“The start wasn’t bad. The issue was when Jack [Miller] passed me again, but we were so close, and the bike was shaking,” Acosta explained.
“The bike had great speed. Sometimes I moved out of the slipstream to cool down the tire a bit.
“Then, there was this moment just before I overtook [Marc] Marquez. We went wide together, and I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll wait.’ The overtakes were just incredible.”
What do you think about Pedro Acosta’s performance on his debut MotoGP race at Qatar?
Let us know in comments.
