Is KTM Building a Championship-Winning Team Behind Pedro Acosta?

Pedro Acosta is seen as the future for KTM, that much we know. But it seems as though the Austrian company is now making it clear and obvious who its priority is.

Brad Binder is a Moto3 world champion and a multiple time race winner in the premier class, while the second KTM team in 2025 will consist of another two MotoGP stars in Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales.

But it's Acosta who remains the name on everyone’s lips when we think of KTM winning its next race, or mounting a sustained title challenge against the likes of Ducati, and potentially Aprilia in 2025 and beyond.

Acosta produced one of his best performances in MotoGP last weekend at the Indonesian GP, finishing second, which made him the only non-Ducati rider to finish inside the top five. The next best KTM was Brad Binder in eighth, who was over 13 seconds down on Acosta come the end of the race.

Acosta has regularly been KTM’s bright light throughout 2024, a season that’s been tougher than expected as KTM remains without a win. Acosta looks close to breaking his MotoGP duck, but even if he doesn’t in 2024, it's clear that KTM has a generational talent on its hands.

KTM was desperate not to lose Acosta to its rivals when he was busy winning the Moto2 world title in 2023, and that’s exactly what it avoided before promoting him to the GASGAS team.

Acosta was then announced as Binder’s team-mate in the full factory team for next season, after only half a year. Acosta’s rise has been rapid, and KTM appears to be acting upon that by making a managerial change that seems to only help the likeable Spaniard in the coming years. Francesco Guidotti, renowned as one of the best in the business, has been kicked to the curb in favour of Aki Ajo.

Why is this important? Well, Acosta was brought through the Moto3 and Moto2 ranks by the Finn, and the pair enjoyed world title wins at both levels. This feels like a pure case of KTM getting someone in who knows Acosta, and more importantly knows how to get the best from Acosta.

We can clearly say Acosta is delivering his best already as a rookie, however, the Spaniard will only get better as he becomes more experienced.

Therefore having someone who knows him perfectly and has a wealth of experience running championship-winning projects around him is another indication that KTM is putting the best team possible around its superstar rider.

Acosta has never worked with Guidotti and the young Spaniard does not appear to be sad about it, as he gave a ringing endorsement to KTM’s decision to promote Ajo.

Acosta said: “Well, super happy about that. I think there is no one around this paddock that can be prepared to take that one target to fight for the MotoGP world title.

“He’s a special character for sure, but a character that was helping me a lot in the past and I really liked how direct he is. I was talking to him this afternoon about this and I think we are going to make a good match together.”

Can you blame KTM for wanting to surround Acosta with experienced, highly successful people that he knows, of course not, but it’s also worth pointing out that Guidotti is considered one of the best team managers in MotoGP.

It’s more likely, at least in my opinion, that KTM’s struggles to match Ducati in 2024 are because the Italian brand has once again been one step ahead of the competition, not because Guidotti failed in his role.

Current KTM factory rider Jack Miller was strong in his defence of Guidotti, even though the pair are both moving on from the Austrian company after being axed for next year.

Miller added: “I think that's absolutely bullshit. Francesco is a fantastic team leader in terms of what he's done with Pramac, putting them basically in the position that they're in now. And I think given the right tools, he could have done the same job at KTM. But it wasn't the way to be and that revolving door keeps turning…”

Guidotti’s dismissal as team manager was not only discussed by riders, but also pundits, with former racer Michael Laverty shocked by KTM's decision.

Laverty did not hold back when speaking to TNT Sports, saying: “I’ve heard from a lot of highly qualified engineers that he is the best they’ve worked under. So it’s surprising from KTM.

“I liken it to a Premier League football team who have to point to someone when the results aren’t there, and it’s usually the manager who gets the flick. Francesco has been scapegoated. The ball has fallen at his feet, he’s kicked it along nicely, worked with the tools that he’s got and done a great job.

“He’s a good communicator and does everything right for the public perception of KTM. I don’t like it, I don’t like that he’s been moved aside one year early when he has a contract for 2025. Obviously KTM will have to pay him out of that contract.

“I don’t see the logic behind it. Ajo is a skilled team manager but I don’t see it making any difference to the results on-track. I don’t see how moving Ajo in will result in a couple of tenths of a second that they are missing.”

In Guidotti and Ajo we’re talking about two of the very best, so on paper there might not be much in it when we think about who could do the better job.

But it's clear that KTM thinks Ajo can improve the KTM fortunes and putting him in that role is a clear message that Acosta, in particular, is being given all the tools he needs to become a title contender moving forward.

Pressure will be ramped up on Acosta going forward as the rookie tag will be lifted in 2025, while KTM has also repeatedly failed to mount a title challenge over the last few seasons despite putting a lot of resources into its MotoGP project. 

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