Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta went head-to-head at the start of the Sprint at the Grand Prix of Aragon on Saturday. It’s rare that Acosta has had the chance to compete with his fellow Spaniard this year.
Marquez made a sluggish getaway from pole position, and Acosta, who lined up fifth, was right with him into the turn one braking zone. The two riders made precarious contact, but both survived.
The Ducati superstar went on to pass VR46’s Franco Morbidelli and his brother Alex on the Gresini to regain first place. Acosta engaged in a prolonged tussle with Morbidelli, but he too ended up holding his grid spot.
Acosta announced himself as MotoGP’s next superstar last season when he scored five podiums as a rookie. He was perhaps the most exciting newcomer since Marquez himself in 2013.
KTM’s progress has rather stalled this year, with Acosta yet to add to his podium tally. He entered the Aragon Grand Prix weekend a rather underwhelming ninth in the standings.
Neil Hodgson suspects that Pedro Acosta has driven Marc Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer closer
While the comparisons were inevitable, Acosta ‘hates’ being called the new Marc Marquez. He’s done what he can to ‘distance himself’ from the Ant of Cervera.
Indeed, reports have even claimed that Valentino Rossi sees Acosta as the ‘anti-Marquez’. He reportedly wants to bring him to VR46.
One could argue that Acosta’s biggest rival on the grid is Fermin Aldeguer, his fellow Murcian who followed him through the junior categories. The two riders are no longer friends after the burden of competition took its toll.
The Marquez brothers were seen congratulating Aldeguer after he finished on the podium in the Aragon Sprint. And TNT Sports commentator Neil Hodgson suspects that Marc was sending a message to Acosta.
“Look how delighted they are for Aldeguer!” Gavin Emmett said.
“They get on quite well, don’t they?” Hodgson replied.
“Yeah, they really do,” Emmett explained. “Aldeguer credits them with a lot of advice over the years.”
“Do you also feel like it’s a little bit… Pedro Acosta’s trying to distance himself from Marc Marquez,” Hodgson suggested. “He doesn’t want to talk about him.”
Pedro Acosta’s brilliant statement on Marc Marquez’s teammate Francesco Bagnaia
Aldeguer is determined to move out of Acosta’s shadow, according to one pundit. Fittingly, the Gresini youngster has just gone level on points with the KTM ace.
Aldeguer would love to partner Marquez at Ducati one day, even though it would bring unparalleled ‘pressure’. That could be his destiny if he continues to impress Luigi Dall’Igna.
Francesco Bagnaia’s long-term future doesn’t look quite as certain as it did a few months ago. His stock has fallen alongside the most successful rider of this era.
But Acosta has passionately defended Bagnaia at Aragon. He says the Italian deserves more respect after ending a Ducati title drought that stretched back to the Casey Stoner days.
