During the recent MotoGP Indonesia Grand Prix, Pedro Acosta expressed his disagreement with the controversial tire pressure rules affecting riders during races. The current rider for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing stated that these regulations make racers seem like ‘asses’ on the track.
Acosta, who started the race in ninth position, easily overtook Ducati’s Marc Márquez to place fourth by the seventh lap. However, the pressure of his front tire exceeded the permitted limit, forcing him to give up the position and run in Márquez’s wake. The two riders exchanged positions for 10 to 12 laps, a fact that negatively impacted their performance and was frowned upon by spectators.
The situation became complicated when Ai Ogura, a Trackhouse rider, joined the battle, passing both riders in the final phase of the competition. This allowed the Aprilia team to achieve an impressive 1-2-3-4 in the final classification.
The tire pressure rules were a recurring topic during both days of the weekend, with Jorge Martín also being forced to relinquish the lead for similar reasons in the previous sprint race. Acosta has requested that the minimum pressure requirement be applied only at the start of the race, arguing that one cannot control what other riders do during the competition.
Acosta explained that his competition with Márquez was constant, losing significant time while trying to adjust to the pressure restrictions. ‘I struggled throughout the race with the pressure of the front tire, and that made me lose a lot of time: I would let Márquez go, then I would pass him again, and so on. Even Ogura caught up with us,’ he commented.
These issues with tire pressure also affected Maverick Viñales, another KTM rider, who received a 16-second penalty for failing to meet the minimum requirements, although this did not have a significant impact on his results, finishing last among the classified riders.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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