Thailand Grand Prix: KTM Struggles, Acosta Crashes and Finishes Out of Points

The Thai Grand Prix was anything but smooth sailing for Pedro Acosta. Aiming for a strong finish, the young KTM rider found himself wrestling more with his bike than with his rivals. In the fourth lap, while holding the 9th position, he lost the rear of his KTM before the front followed, sending him sliding out. “We need to understand,” he remarked afterwards, visibly frustrated. He ended up 19th, far from the points, but not giving up.

A Concerning Issue

It’s not just a simple crash that has Acosta and his team worried, but rather how the bike responds on the track. As he puts it, “We need to understand why we have this issue, it’s not normal.” His pace hinted at a possible Top 5 finish, but the KTM seems fickle, complicating the rider’s task. The KTM engineers have their work cut out for them to analyze the data and find a solution.

KTM Facing a Headache

This Grand Prix highlights a recurring issue at KTM: a fast bike but unpredictable. Between random grip levels and challenges in managing tire wear, the Austrian machine doesn’t offer the confidence a rider needs to attack with assurance. Acosta felt it and sent a clear message to his team: they need to find settings that stabilize the bike, or risk being caught in a negative spiral.

What Now?

The season rolls on and KTM can’t afford to lose ground on Ducati and Aprilia. If the issue isn’t addressed quickly, Acosta and his teammates might see their hopes for strong finishes dashed. Hard and swift work is required to turn the situation around, because in MotoGP, no one’s waiting for anyone.