pointed to tyre grip and braking points at Jerez after lacking out on a direct place in Q2 for the primary time within the 2026 MotoGP season.
Acosta was unusually off the tempo throughout Observe for the Spanish Grand Prix, ending a distant fifteenth aboard the manufacturing unit KTM.
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After bolting on a recent delicate rear tyre late within the session, the Spaniard lit up the timesheets on two separate events however failed to finish a clear lap every time. He additionally nearly-suffered a highside at Flip 6, the difficult right-hand hairpin which marks the heaviest braking zone at Jerez.
Whereas Acosta managed to ship a late enchancment, it wasn’t sufficient for a Q2 berth, lacking out by a tenth of a second to fellow KTM rider .
Explaining what went unsuitable on Friday, the 21-year-old instructed his struggles at Jerez may very well be track-specific.
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“It’s onerous to grasp, as a result of I solely get these ‘regular’ emotions right here [and not elsewhere],” he mentioned. “Hopefully, this would be the worst grand prix of the yr after which we are able to stick with it within the vein we had been in.
“I believe with that tyre [that gave me the scare], for some motive, I’d have made it into Q2, as a result of I used to be going a lot quicker than with the second [the one he fitted afterwards].
“For some motive, I had extra grip than on the second try. We have to perceive what’s occurring, why we’re struggling a lot to brake; it appears to be our weak level on this circuit.”
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5 out of six Ducatis safely progressed into Q2 on Friday, whereas all 4 full-season Aprilias had been additionally labeled inside the highest 10.
That left only one spot for a non-Italian bike on the grid, which ultimately went to Bastianini on the Tech3-entered RC16.
Whereas final yr’s winner loved a three-tenth benefit on the entrance aboard the Gresini Ducatis, the remainder of the sphere was separated by high quality margins.
“The truth that the whole lot is so shut makes [missing out on Q2] appear even worse, as a result of ultimately, with a two tenths of a second enchancment, you may find yourself third,” he admitted. “However anyway, there’s work to be performed for tomorrow.”
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Acosta will face the complete Honda and Yamaha contingents in Q1 on Saturday, alongside along with his team-mate and VR46 Ducati’s .
He acknowledged the significance of qualifying at Jerez, significantly with tyre stress rules anticipated to make overtaking troublesome within the race.
“Q1 can be the whole lot, supplied it doesn’t rain on Sunday,” he mentioned. “The factor is, very often, getting by way of to Q2 through Q1 is far tougher than qualifying immediately. Let’s see if we are able to make a step ahead, nevertheless it’s true that it’s going to be a good battle, as a result of I’ve seen that , Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli – who at all times springs a shock – and are all there.
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“The race tempo hasn’t been dangerous, particularly in observe, but when we begin fifteenth, having tempo gained’t be of a lot use. We’ll need to make the very best of it tomorrow.”
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