Pedro Acosta enters his second season in MotoGP with the weight of high expectations firmly on his shoulders. After an impressive rookie campaign with five podiums, the 20-year-old Red Bull KTM Factory rider is yet to claim his first win, but he believes it’s only a matter of time. "I have been living with pressure since I was 16 and now I’m close to 21, and nothing has changed," he shared in an interview with MCN.
For Acosta, the pressure is part of the job, but he’s learned to manage it. “Pressure and expectations are only words, but sometimes those words can cause pain. A rider needs to be focused on riding the bike," he said.
Reflecting on his debut season, Acosta admitted that stability was a challenge. "We missed a lot of consistency," he explained, adding that his eagerness to push too quickly was part of the struggle. "Sometimes you think the easiest way is a straight line, but sometimes you need to make some corners and have some ups and downs." Now, with a year of experience under his belt, Acosta feels those difficulties have stood to him: "Now I am much more confident."
Heading into the 2025 campaign as a full-fledged factory KTM rider, Acosta is excited for the challenge ahead: "Good vibes to see myself in orange again!" Pre-season testing also showed promising progress, and Acosta feels ready for the 2025 season. "We are more competitive, more safe from crashes. Now we need to be calm and see how the first races go. I’ll try to be calm, and the results will come," he added.
As the new season draws near, Acosta remains focused on his growth, confident that the results will follow as he continues to evolve as a rider and a person within MotoGP.