Pedro Acosta Wins First MotoGP Race, Ends Long Drought for KTM

A LONG-AWAITED FIRST WIN

Pedro Acosta finally has his first MotoGP Sunday win, nearly three years and 15 podiums into his premier-class career, after taking victory at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The win also snapped a drought for KTM, the Austrian manufacturer's first since 2022.

Aprilia looked set to steal the show early, riding high off Jorge Martin's win in Saturday's sprint. On Sunday, Martin led from the start ahead of teammate Marco Bezzecchi and Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura, while Ducati's Marc Marquez dropped three positions on the opening lap and never recovered.

THE MOVE THAT WON IT

Off the line, Acosta jumped ahead of future Ducati stablemate Marquez to slot into fourth, then began carving through the field. By lap four he'd passed Bezzecchi at Turn 2b, the very corner where a costly error had cost him the lead in Saturday's sprint. On lap nine, he out-dragged Martin down into Turn 2a to take the point, then managed the gap to the flag, finishing a second clear. Behind him, the Aprilia pair completed the podium separated by just 0.192 seconds, with Martin's runner-up finish stretching his championship lead over Marquez to 12 points after the reigning champion could only manage fifth, 7.3 seconds back. Bezzecchi sits 42 points off the championship lead in third heading into the next round in Japan.

Brad Binder capped a strong day for the Red Bull KTM garage with sixth, his best result of the season, after KTM noted he was the only rider to gamble on the soft front tire. Francesco Bagnaia was the second Ducati home in seventh.

A SIGNATURE MOMENT FOR A STRUGGLING MANUFACTURER

The result is a significant boost for KTM, which has been working through financial difficulties. "We have come out of some tough moments since 2024. The company is back in shape...but we also had our issues on the track this summer: we responded from those with 2nd in Aragon, 3rd in Misano and then winning our home Grand Prix," said Pit Beirer, KTM's motorsports director. "It is something we could not have imagined a few weeks ago. I'm so happy for the team, for the factory and I also want to give this as a present to all KTM because we all fought to come out of a crisis. We are back."

Acosta, who is set to join the factory Ducati team in 2027, thanked the fans who packed the grandstands in KTM colors. "The first one is always special, and in front of so many Austrian fans," he said. "There were many KTM t-shirts and I'm so happy for the team, they deserve it more than me. I had many good people around yesterday when I messed up. This result was amazing."

STANDINGS

Martin leads the championship on 306 points after 15 rounds, with Marquez second on 294 and Bezzecchi third on 264. Acosta's win moves him up to fourth on 234 points as the series heads to Japan for the next round.