Pedro Acosta of KTM has expressed skepticism about his team’s chances of securing wins in the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season, emphasizing that two manufacturers currently stand far ahead of the competition. The Austrian brand, KTM, returns in 2026 still seeking its first victory since the 2022 Thailand Grand Prix, with Acosta entering his third premier class season after a difficult 2025 campaign on underperforming machinery.
Earlier this year, Acosta was optimistic during KTM’s season launch about the upgrades made to the RC16 over the winter. However, after four days of pre-season testing, KTM remains clearly behind the front runners, placing as the third-best manufacturer on the grid.
Progress Seen, But Challenges Remain Clear
On the opening day of testing in Buriram, Acosta took a conservative approach by skipping full-out time attacks, yet he found the sprint simulation promising despite finishing 14th.
“Looks quite ok, much better than the one from last year,”
he remarked. He acknowledged that although KTM still struggles in short-distance speed, it isn’t a severe deficit compared to the rivals.
Acosta plans to attempt a time attack soon to better gauge KTM’s standing against competitors.
“For this, let’s try to make it tomorrow, see where we are,”
he said, signaling cautious optimism about the improvements made to the bike.
Recognition of Ducati and Aprilia’s Strengths
While acknowledging that KTM’s machine has improved, Acosta highlighted that Aprilia and Ducati remain the standards to beat in 2026.
“Ducati still has its domination, looks like even more than last year, and Aprilia has started the season where it finished the last one. For this, still work to do. It will be a competitive year,”
he stated.
He stressed the importance of the upcoming full race simulation in revealing KTM’s true potential.
“Tomorrow we will do the [full] race simulation. For this, this will tell the truth. If it’s [the bike] much, much better, we should [be able to] fight for the win. It’s better,”
Acosta explained, indicating that KTM’s goal remains to close the gap to its more dominant rivals.
Outlook for the 2026 MotoGP Season
As KTM continues to develop, Pedro Acosta’s measured reflections suggest that while progress has been made, Ducati’s hold on the championship looks stronger than ever heading into 2026. Aprilia’s consistency also ensures a tight battle at the front, making the upcoming races a critical test of KTM’s renewed efforts and Acosta’s growth as a competitor.
The early season will reveal whether KTM can break its winless streak, but the warning from Acosta clearly signals that Ducati’s dominance is expected to persist, shaping much of the competition’s dynamic next year.
