Pedro Acosta heads into the French Grand Prix full of confidence after declaring KTM’s RC16 is “spectacular in the rain” ahead of a potentially wet weekend at Le Mans.
Weather forecasts suggest rain could once again play a major role in Sunday’s MotoGP race, creating conditions that may favour riders capable of adapting quickly on a slippery track. For Acosta, that scenario could provide a valuable opportunity as he continues chasing his first MotoGP grand prix victory.
The KTM rookie has already impressed throughout the season with two podium finishes and a sprint race win, establishing himself as one of the standout performers on the grid. Now, he believes both his riding style and the RC16 could become even more competitive if wet conditions arrive in France.
However, KTM’s optimism is not limited to rain alone.
Both Acosta and teammate Brad Binder left the recent Jerez test encouraged by progress made with the RC16 in dry conditions. The Austrian manufacturer used the post-race session to work on several handling areas that had troubled the riders earlier in the season.
Binder revealed the team found improvements in the bike’s overall stability and throttle control, helping maintain grip more consistently while also making braking behaviour smoother and more predictable.
According to the South African rider, the updates may not be visually obvious, but they could make a significant difference over a full race distance.
Source: iMotorbike News
Acosta shared a similar view, explaining that KTM focused on refining the bike’s turning performance and stability rather than introducing major aerodynamic or design changes.
The Spaniard admitted he struggled more than expected during the Jerez race weekend, but said the post-race test helped restore confidence in the bike.
“It looks like in the test everything came back to the point and everything started to work quite OK,” Acosta said.
The improvements could arrive at an important moment for KTM as the team looks to close the gap to Ducati and the other leading manufacturers.
A dry Friday practice session at Circuit Bugatti will give KTM a clearer picture of whether the latest developments can consistently improve performance. But if rain eventually arrives on race day, Acosta believes KTM may already hold one of the strongest packages on the grid.
With unpredictable weather expected throughout the weekend, the French Grand Prix could provide another major opportunity for the young Spaniard to strengthen his growing reputation in MotoGP.
