Pedro Acosta’s Fiery Outburst on Qualifying Tactics at Silverstone: Calls for End to Disruptive ‘Towing’ Practices

Pedro Acosta fervently criticizes slipstreaming: "You end up doing laps for others; it's time to put an end to it"

"We're not fools; we understand when we're in the way and when we're not."

Pedro Acosta unleashed a passionate tirade regarding the drafting dispute during Saturday's event at Silverstone.

Pecco Bagnaia initially expressed frustration over the number of riders attempting to slipstream during the qualifying rounds at the British MotoGP, a sentiment that was subsequently shared by numerous others.

"Acosta concurred," he spoke to the press, among them Crash.net, at Silverstone.

"I grasp that we have the option to remain in the pitlane. It's also clear to me that we pause during the out-lap.

"However, what really bothers me is if, for whatever reason, your lap is messed up, you then halt midway and mess up the laps for everyone else. In my opinion, this is not appropriate."

"We're not oblivious; we recognize where we cause disruption and where we don't. This has happened in numerous races already – I believe it's time to put an end to it.

"I recall [a Moto3 rider] commenced from the pit lane, already down by five spots on the grid. It's essential we establish a regulation – upon initiating a lap, refrain from ruining the lap for others.

Currently, it's straightforward. You head out, pause at Turn 6, but the issue arises when you're unsure of another person's actions. We move quickly, and if someone halts right ahead…

"It implies reducing your speed. Regarding the incident involving Bastianini and Marc, which I witnessed from behind, there was additional asphalt available. If your lap isn't going well, you have the option to pull over to one side, but this should be done within the boundaries of the track, demarcated by the white lines.

"It's hard to believe the speed at which we get there. The slightest action from the opponent determines whether you're quicker or not."

Acosta refrained from directly blaming his competitors for sabotaging their laps to affect others, stating: "I'm not going to claim they ruin their own laps on purpose. However, there's a competition in everything.

"Imagine in Formula 1 [racing], when cars create turbulence for others? It's like that. If you disrupt the other drivers' speed, you gain an advantage."

"I get it if an error occurs, and one day it goes unnoticed. We're human and prone to errors. However, when it starts becoming a routine, it poses a risk. That's why the Moto3 riders do it, the Moto2 riders do it…

"This isn't about protecting us. It's about ensuring the safety of the newcomers and preserving the integrity of the championship."

"Speed is the key to victory, regardless of whether you begin in the lead or further back in the pack."

"If this turns into a regular occurrence every weekend, it's burdensome…"

Acosta details competing without aerodynamic aid

After qualifying in ninth place, Acosta went on to secure a fifth-place finish in Saturday's sprint race.

He collided with his KTM teammate Brad Binder, an event that caused his wing to fly off into the sky.

Acosta recounted his experience of finishing the sprint without a wing, stating, "It wasn't too terrible. It took a bit of a struggle to adjust for two laps, but then I got the hang of how to handle the bike in its wingless state.

"This signified that I was missing out on moments with Marc and Brad. However, afterward, I managed to recuperate alongside Brad prior to Marc experiencing a downfall."

"In the end, it turned out to be a successful race. This was the first time we had a strong start. We executed maneuvers similar to what we did at the season's outset. Our speed allowed us to compete closely with Marc. For this reason, we have reasons to feel pleased."

He likened his KTM without wings to an airplane possessing only a single wing, emphasizing the similarity in the context of a motorcycle.

The issue I encountered was that the entire bicycle tended to move in a certain direction because just one wing was exerting pressure on the ground.

"In those corners, particularly the ones on the right, it became challenging to maintain control of the front end. Additionally, there was the issue of the bike lifting into a wheelie."

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