KTM's expectations regarding Pedro Acosta's MotoGP debut had been understandably high from the start.
They had placed their trust for years in the talented rider from Mazarrón who was about to enter a MotoGP that was predominantly Ducati.
But even if a victory wasn't achieved, we can't say that the young Spanish rider didn't meet the expectations of the Austrian manufacturer, racking up an impressive nine podiums, between sprints and races, and finishing his season 6th just two points behind his brand mate, Binder, whom he'll be joining in KTM's garage next season.
Not a bad debut for Acosta, who has never made a secret of the fact that he approached this first year in the premier class as a learning curve.
So, also making mistakes, falling, and trying to learn as much as possible about both the bike and his rivals, while adapting his own riding style.
It was precisely his extreme adaptability that team leader Paul Trevathan emphasized in an interview with Crash.net.
"Others could get on his bike, with the same set-up, and not be able to do what he does," the New Zealander began.
"Vice versa, he could get on theirs and do just as well, because he adapts easily."
The secret of the 20-year-old lies in the methodical nature of his work and his training, which is designed solely for two wheels.
"He doesn't see himself as just an athlete, but as a motorcycle racer. He has no interest in running marathons or becoming a professional cyclist.
He just wants to race motorcycles, and his training revolves solely around how to do it to be faster on wheels."
Acosta's willingness to adapt, therefore, transfers to the track and makes a difference.
"This adaptability of his transfers to the track, as well. The bike doesn't always have to be perfect.
He himself doesn't think it ever will be, so he'll always be able to add something of his own to it. That's great for us engineers, too, because you know that, if you get to ninety percent, he'll give it the other ten percent."
But this advantage could also translate into a limitation in terms of development.
"The important thing is not to make mistakes, and he0ll be able to handle that. The development of the bike, however, could stall at times because, like happened with Marc Marquez on the Honda, he0s able to get something out of the bike that others can't.
So, when this advantage of his is lost, the bike is likely to seem quite normal. In the garage, however, he's always been professional and has never pointed fingers, although he certainly has vented at times on the track. he Has an open nature."
