Pedro Acosta’s Heartbreak: Double DNF After Pole Position at Japan’s MotoGP Grand Prix

Pedro Acosta discusses the challenge of coming to terms with his second crash at Motegi MotoGP

Tech3 newcomer faces back-to-back retirements from the lead position in Japan

Pedro Acosta has expressed that his fall from second position in the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix is "hard to come to terms with," following a second consecutive did-not-finish (DNF) from the pole position at Motegi.

On Saturday, the 20-year-old rider achieved his inaugural pole position in MotoGP after he led the Q2 session, benefiting from a last-minute lap disqualification for Marc Marquez.

Acosta appeared poised to secure his initial sprint victory after maintaining the lead for the majority of the race on Saturday, only to fall at Turn 7.

In the grand prix, Acosta was in second place and appeared to be the major competitor to Francesco Bagnaia, who ultimately won, until he crashed at Turn 14 on the final stretch of the third lap.

Acosta described the situation, stating, "I aimed to improve my approach onto the main straight since I was having difficulty getting close enough to Pecco for an overtaking move."

"However, it was an error on my part."

"It's challenging to articulate my thoughts on this. Indeed, it was incredibly tight. We'll give it another shot in Australia."

"For me, the sensation was much like it was the day before. Coming to terms with the crash is hard. We'll give it another shot in Australia since we are closing in on our goal."

Despite his disappointment, Acosta remained optimistic about his speed at Motegi, which represents a consistent improvement in his performance since the San Marino GP weekend.

"I'm in really good spirits this weekend," he included.

"Australia is typically a circuit where we perform well. We witnessed Brad's impressive performance there last season."

"Let's check the condition of the asphalt and the state of the tires, as that's where our uncertainties lie."

Nicolas Goyon, the manager of Tech3, shared Acosta's views, but also thinks that this challenge will fortify the newcomer.

He expressed, "We truly believed we held all the elements to make this one of our most successful weekends of the season."

Pedro felt content with the bicycle's performance and how things were progressing, so the failure to finish today was particularly hard, especially as he was competing at the lead.

"Understanding our errors is crucial, and I believe this experience will enhance his skills as a cyclist."

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