Pedro Acosta Endorses Aki Ajo for KTM Leadership: Eyes Set on MotoGP World Title

Pedro Acosta's opinion on Aki Ajo taking the helm at KTM: 'Utterly unmatched in readiness'

Pedro Acosta evaluates the choice of team leader at KTM

Pedro Acosta believes that no individual is better equipped than the "unique personality" Aki Ajo to lead KTM to a MotoGP championship victory.

After much anticipation and rumors, KTM announced post the Indonesian Grand Prix that Francesco Guidotti will be resigning from his position as team manager by the close of 2024.

Ajo, known for its extensive partnership with the Austrian manufacturer as the leading team in both the Moto3 and Moto2 categories, will be stepping in as his replacement.

Acosta clinched the Moto3 championship during his inaugural season in 2021 with Ajo and went on to secure the Moto2 title in 2023 alongside the Finnish team, prior to making his first appearance in MotoGP with Tech3 GASGAS in the same year.

Inquired about his perspective on renewing his collaboration with Ajo before the Japanese Grand Prix, Acosta expressed, "I'm really thrilled about it."

"It appears there isn't anyone in this paddock ready to challenge for the MotoGP world championship."

"Undoubtedly, he's a unique individual. His directness and the significant support he provided me in the past have made him someone I genuinely appreciate."

"This afternoon, during our conversation, I expressed my belief that we would work well together."

Acosta heads into the Motegi race following a runner-up position at the Indonesian GP last weekend, where he sensed that KTM was nearing another victory.

The RC16 motorcycle has historically performed well at the Motegi circuit, known for its sharp corners and acceleration zones. Brad Binder achieved a podium finish in the sprint event held there last year and secured second place in the grand prix in 2022.

This, along with the advancements Acosta believes KTM has achieved with the motorcycle, might enable him to be nearer to winning than he previously was in Indonesia.

"Acosta mentioned, "Indeed, it usually greatly benefits our bike."

"Observations from the previous season show that Brad and Jack [Miller] displayed strong competitiveness, even outside the challenging races."

"Last season, Brad secured a spot on the podium. We're optimistic that the enhancements we've implemented in the recent races, along with our current approach, will bring us even closer to victory in Mandalika."

"Okay, if we look back, there have been significant enhancements across the past four or five competitions."

Indeed, in Mandalika, completing a race was crucial for us, especially since in Misano, despite our strong competitiveness, I ended up crashing in both races.

"We needed to gather some information over a lengthy race. We're hopeful that we can keep up this momentum, as it's bringing us closer together."

Explore Further

Sign up for our MotoGP Newsletter

Stay updated with the newest MotoGP updates, exclusive content, one-on-one interviews, and special offers straight from the track to your email.

For further details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Recent Updates

Additional Updates

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing the entirety or a portion of the written content, images, or illustrations in any manner is strictly prohibited.