Pol Espargaro Hails Pedro Acosta’s ‘Insane’ MotoGP Progress: Compares Throttle-Brake Technique to Valentino Rossi

Pol Espargaro described Pedro Acosta’s development as ‘incredible’ and compared his throttle and brake control to that of Valentino Rossi during his time with Yamaha.

‘The way he manages the throttle and brake reminds me of how Valentino handled it at Yamaha,’ Espargaro remarked.

Pol Espargaro has expressed his surprise at how quickly MotoGP newcomer Pedro Acosta has adjusted to competing at the top level.

Espargaro offers an insightful viewpoint on the accomplishments of the current Moto2 champion. This season, he has transitioned from full-time racing to allow Acosta to take his place at GASGAS Tech3. Additionally, Espargaro supports Acosta's development whenever he can in his new capacity as a KTM factory test rider.

“He wasn't in need of that much assistance, I assure you!” Espargaro grinned during the latest Mugello event when asked about the 20-year-old racer, who has already secured two Grand Prix podium finishes and is currently the leading KTM rider, ranking fifth in the MotoGP standings.

“This man was prepared from the start!” Espargaro commented. “The standard in MotoGP is incredibly high right now, so witnessing someone achieve such results with our motorcycle is unbelievable.”

"I hold it in higher regard now than before. Riders like Lorenzo and Marquez were outstanding as newcomers, but back then, only four bikes were in contention for the championship. Currently, there are numerous riders competing, and it's not just the factory teams but also the satellite teams."

"All the men in the group are youthful, skilled, and quick, but this individual is demonstrating that he’s even quicker than they are… despite lacking experience! He’s achieving something extraordinary. Therefore, he doesn’t require [my] assistance!"

Highlighting a few of Acosta's strengths, the rider who has achieved podium finishes with Yamaha, KTM, and Honda in MotoGP commented:

“What initially amazed me the most was how he utilized the entire track, from the inside edge to the outside. It’s incredible and extremely challenging.”

"I was also surprised by his braking technique. Typically, the natural reaction is to reach the 150-meter mark, realize you're traveling at 350 kilometers per hour, and then slam on the brakes."

"He manipulates the throttle and applies the brake in a manner reminiscent of Valentino Rossi during his Yamaha days. Rossi would brake while maintaining 20% throttle, a technique I never mastered."

"One time, I attempted this maneuver at Mugello and nearly had a fatal crash in the first turn! The reason was that I maintained the throttle open too much while braking!"

“Moreover, the way he maneuvers his body while steering the bike is quite fascinating. I'm not as tall as he is, so even if I wanted to attempt it, I wouldn't be able to. His technique of leaning his body out from the bike is very distinctive. I believe this significantly aids in navigating the bike through the middle of turns.”

Informed of Espargaro’s comments, Acosta replied, “It seems that this is the preferred riding style for the bike. I’m also making an effort to learn from everyone and combine the best techniques.”

"As I mentioned, the bike seems to encourage me to ride it in this manner."

Reflecting on his initial seven MotoGP races, Acosta grinned and remarked, "It wasn't a catastrophe!"

Frankly, things could have been a lot better, but they also could have been worse. We did miss out on two solid opportunities in Le Mans and Barcelona, but that's just a part of the learning curve.

"Having completed these seven races, our situation is now much clearer. We have numerous aspects to test and consider for the upcoming races."

A major takeaway so far has been understanding how incredibly fast MotoGP riders are, and realizing that sometimes staying calm can actually help you go faster.

In addition to preventing chatter (vibration) problems with the RC16 through adjustments and alterations in riding techniques, Acosta believes there is room for improvement in one particular area:

"In extended turns, such as those in Barcelona, it's about maintaining a bit more speed with the rear."

Acosta is set to compete in his eighth MotoGP race at Assen this weekend, marking the beginning of two consecutive rounds that present his final opportunity to surpass Marc Marquez's record as the youngest rider to win a MotoGP race.

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