Pedro Acosta targeting back-to-back MotoGP wins
The 2026 MotoGP World Championship battle reaches another crucial stage this weekend as the paddock arrives at Motegi for the Japanese Grand Prix, with Pedro Acosta looking to build on his maiden MotoGP victory in Austria.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider finally claimed his first premier-class victory at the Red Bull Ring two weeks ago, doing so on his 56th MotoGP start. Having broken his win duck, Acosta now heads into the opening round of the flyaway races with renewed confidence.
MotoGP expert Tom Lüthi has extensive experience of riding the 4.8km Motegi circuit and believes its characteristics could play into KTM’s hands.
The former Moto3 World Champion also sees similarities between Motegi and the Red Bull Ring, where Acosta produced a brilliant performance to defeat his rivals.
“The balance of power – who is quick, who rides really well – will roughly be the same as it was at Spielberg,” said Lüthi.
“Especially of course Pedro Acosta on the KTM, who finally secured his first win in the premier class. I do believe that the bike’s characteristics could work well in Japan too.
“It’s actually a similar track to the Red Bull Ring in terms of character. It really comes down to braking there – hard braking. Japan has a few more flowing sections and even more technical sections than is the case at Spielberg.”
Jorge Martin cannot be ruled out at Motegi
Acosta’s ability to perform under heavy braking was one of the keys to his Austrian Grand Prix victory, but championship leader Jorge Martin also enjoyed a hugely successful weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
The Aprilia Racing rider won the MotoGP Sprint before finishing second in Sunday’s Grand Prix, allowing him to extend his advantage at the top of the championship.
After difficult races in Aragon and San Marino, Martin now leads reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez by 12 points.
Lüthi expects Martin to be firmly in contention again at Motegi.
“We mustn’t forget Jorge Martin, for example, who really put in a very, very strong performance at Spielberg and picked up loads of points,” said Lüthi.
“So, it’s certainly going to be exciting.”
MotoGP title fight reaches critical stage
The Japanese Grand Prix begins a hectic run of seven MotoGP races in just nine weeks, with the championship battle set to be decided before the end of November.
Martin currently leads Marquez, while Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi remains in contention, although he trails the championship leader by 42 points.
Pedro Acosta is also refusing to give up on his title ambitions. The KTM rider is 72 points behind Martin, while Marquez has also acknowledged that Acosta cannot be completely ruled out of the championship fight.
After Motegi, MotoGP heads immediately to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit for the Indonesian Grand Prix, creating a back-to-back challenge with two very different circuits.
Lüthi believes those two races could provide an important indication of how the 2026 MotoGP title battle will develop.
“Japan’s coming up straight away, back-to-back races followed by Indonesia, and I’m sure that after these two races a clearer picture will emerge in the MotoGP class as to who’s still in the running for the title and who’s lost too many points,” said Lüthi.
“So, the big points are crucial now.
“Ultimately, it’s all about scoring the big points, trying to beat the rivals – the whole pack at the front who are fighting for the World Championship – taking points off them and, as far as possible, not making any mistakes. That’ll be the most important thing now.”
With Acosta arriving at Motegi fresh from his first MotoGP victory, Martin leading the championship and Marquez and Bezzecchi still firmly in contention, the Japanese Grand Prix could prove pivotal in the 2026 MotoGP title fight.
