Acosta welcomes ‘big step’ as KTM brings aero updates

Factory KTM rider Pedro Acosta says the update KTM has brought to this weekend’s Austrian GP represents a “big step” and has finally addressed the bike’s turning difficulties.

Acosta was second fastest in Practice at the Red Bull Ring, behind only championship leader Marc Marquez.

“KTM’s work has paid off, you know,” said the Spaniard. “They were working a lot over the summer to bring me something interesting, because I was asking for this aero since Aragon [in June]. It took time to arrive, but when it arrived we [weren’t sure if it would be an improvement or not].

“But we really made a big step in the area that we needed, that was the turning. And I’m happy about this.”

The performance of the KTM machines in the third sector of the marque’s home circuit illustrated the improvement. In the track’s most flowing part, three KTM bikes filled the top five in Practice as Enea Bastianini (Tech3) led the way with factory rider Brad Binder third and Acosta fifth.

Overall, Binder was 10th-fastest, booking an automatic Q2 spot as his gentle return to form continues, with Bastianini narrowly missing out in 11th.

Acosta explained that the turning aspect addressed what had been a constant weakness in the package – and would be a positive not only in terms of speed but also tyre management.  

“Since KTM arrived in MotoGP, turning was not their strong point. We are super strong in braking, we have a really good engine, traction was not bad at all, but [often we destroyed] the tyres because we were not able to turn and we had to force the rear.

“Now you don’t need to really force the rear tyre, you just need to maybe try to be slightly more flowing. And you don’t need to really force the bike until the moment that you [would] lose both tyres at the same time.”

Asked about the stability control system he had criticised a day earlier, Acosta said he had not used it.

“Everything that you bring is to go faster… if it makes us faster, we put it on. But I’ve tried it [a few times] and I don’t really see any benefit.”

Factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia also said he had opted against using the system on Friday, when it also came in for criticism from two-time world champion Casey Stoner.

In other KTM news, Tech3 rider Maverick Viñales is in doubt for the rest of the Austrian GP weekend.

The Spaniard, who is returning from a shoulder injury picked up at the German Grand Prix last month, did not complete a normal quota of laps on Friday and decided to park his RC16 early.

“The shoulder was not so bad this morning,” he said. “But in the afternoon it got a bit more rigid, with less mobility, and it was harder for me to stay inside the bike in the main straight against the wind. So we decided to stop and see how I recover for tomorrow.

“At the moment, it is really important to listen to the body, to the shoulder, and do the correct steps. We will see how I feel tomorrow morning when I wake up, and make a decision for the day.”

VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli, who is also returning to action following a Sachsenring accident, reported no fitness issues and booked a Q2 slot with seventh in Practice. He will proceed with the weekend as normal.