Pedro Acosta faced setbacks due to a setup change that hindered his performance in the Malaysian MotoGP Sprint, ultimately finishing in ninth place after a fierce contest with Jack Miller.
The duo battled closely throughout the race, with just 0.2 seconds separating them at the finish line, favoring Miller.
“Jack [Miller] is always tough to overtake,” Acosta admitted.
He highlighted that adjustments made to his RC16 for the Sprint complicated overtaking maneuvers.
“In the end, it became extremely challenging to pass, as I found myself running wide every time I attempted to make a move.”
Reflecting on the race, Acosta expressed disappointment over the impact of the setup change, noting.
“It’s painful to realize that a decision like this cost us a better opportunity. However, I managed to use the final four laps to pinpoint our issues and gather valuable insights.”
Acosta elaborated that his primary struggle lay in braking. “On my own, braking was manageable, but it became uncontrollable when I was behind Jack,” he explained.
“I nearly collided with him numerous times. I would pass him several times, only for him to reclaim the position as I continued to run wide. Even when I tried to hold back on passing, I found it difficult to stop the bike and ended up going wide.”
“Despite the challenges, we need to maintain a positive outlook,” he concluded.