MotoGP
After a stellar rookie season, Spain’s MotoGP™ star Pedro Acosta is set to chase victory as KTM Red Bull Factory Racing gears up for a groundbreaking 2025 campaign.
Spain’s Pedro Acosta is determined to aim high for the 2025 MotoGP™ season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Fresh off a stellar rookie year that earned him Rookie of the Year honors, the 20-year-old believes he’s ready to claim his maiden MotoGP™ victory and challenge for the world title alongside team-mate Brad Binder. Joining Acosta on KTM’s ambitious 2025 lineup are Italian star Enea Bastianini, 27, and Spanish veteran Maverick Viñales, 30, who will race for Red Bull KTM Tech3.
The season marks a historic return for KTM with four Red Bull-liveried RC16 machines on the grid for the first time since 2020. Acosta will compete as a full-time factory rider, meaning he’s part of the manufacturer’s primary team, receiving direct factory support with top-tier equipment and resources aimed at maximizing performance. The championship kicks off with the Thai GP on March 2, spanning 22 rounds in 18 countries. KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer expressed confidence that the season could be a breakthrough year for the team.
In an exclusive interview, Acosta acknowledges missed opportunities in his rookie season and says he aims to improve by being mentally stronger and learning from past mistakes, confident the team has the potential for greater success.
How proud are you to wear orange this year as a full-time factory rider?
What will be the biggest difference going from satellite to factory team?
"To be honest, I have to say I was feeling like a 'factory guy' even when I was in the satellite team because KTM was really helping me to feel like that, but it's true that I'm super happy to have the best group of people that I've had throughout my career around me."
What are your development goals for the season?
"For sure we need to improve a lot, for example the qualifying results and the first laps of the races, then we can see if we have the pace and potential to fight for victories and podium positions. Maybe starting a little bit more in the front could help me to fight for those podiums."
How would you evaluate your mental growth over 2024 and how are you approaching 2025?
"There have been many moments when we were prepared to make the first win or podium, but lost it. This year I aim to prepare harder mentally, to be clear and honest with myself where the mistakes are made and how to not make them again. The fact is that we have the potential for more."
Can you compare the level of competition between the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and MotoGP?
"It's not so different. It's true that now in MotoGP also the bikes play an important role in the game but, in the Rookies Cup, the quality is also very high and, in the end, you are fighting together with 22 boys to make your dream come true. It's even more pressure than MotoGP. It's quite tough being 16-17 years old and fighting for that, knowing that maybe it's now or never. If you can make it in the Rookies Cup, then you're ready for bigger classes."
How important will it be to have Brad as a team-mate this season?
"It was a dream come true coming to the factory team after being in Moto3 and Moto2. Also having Brad as a team-mate and helping develop the bike will be a very good point. It will help that he has a lot of experience in the class and I think we will make a good match together."
