Acosta Accepts €2,000 Fine After Malaysian GP Qualifying Infringement

SEPANG, Malaysia – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Pedro Acosta has been handed a €2,000 fine for violating MotoGP’s newly implemented rule concerning restarts after crashes during qualifying sessions. The incident occurred during Q2 of the Malaysian Grand Prix, held at the Sepang International Circuit, where Acosta crashed his RC16 at Turn 1 with approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds remaining on the clock.

Acosta, in his debut season in MotoGP, managed to remount his bike and return to the track, ultimately securing a fifth-place grid position for both the Sprint race and the main Grand Prix. However, this action contravened a new regulation announced by MotoGP officials on Thursday, which explicitly prohibits riders from rejoining the track after a crash within the final three minutes of any practice or qualifying session.

The FIM’s MotoGP stewards panel, led by Simon Crafar, launched an immediate investigation into the incident. After reviewing the available evidence, the panel opted for a financial penalty rather than a more severe sporting sanction, such as a grid penalty or disqualification.

Acosta, while accepting the stewards’ decision, voiced concerns about the practicalities of adhering to the rule in the immediate aftermath of a crash. "It was not the best way to finish a Saturday," Acosta said regarding the penalty. "But I understand his [Crafar’s] part and more or less they understand mine."

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He elaborated on the challenges riders face in such situations: "Because I arrived there and I said, ‘yeah, guys, but first of all, when a rider crashes, the last thing that they will do is to check the dash to see if it’s three minutes to go or 3m20s’. And also, if the marshals are pushing you out, you will not be the one that brakes and pulls the bike out. It’s quite normal, not only for the riders, for everyone. I’m quite lucky that normally I’m always able to start back the bike."

Acosta acknowledged the financial impact of the fine, stating, "For this, okay, they understand my part, I understand their one. Not the nicest thing for my bank account, but it’s what it is. Could be worse."

The crash during Q2 was Acosta’s third of the weekend, following previous falls during Friday practice sessions. Despite these setbacks, Acosta showcased impressive pace throughout the weekend.

Sprint Race Performance and Tyre Degradation

In Saturday’s Sprint race, Acosta initially finished fourth, making him the highest-placed non-Ducati rider. He was later promoted to third place following a penalty imposed on Fermin Aldeguer for a tyre pressure infringement.

During the Sprint race, Acosta closely shadowed Alex Marquez, who finished second, for the initial half of the race. However, as the race progressed, Acosta experienced significant tyre degradation issues, a recurring problem for KTM bikes, which caused him to lose ground in the closing stages.

"I have to say that I’m impressed that I didn’t finish that far for how bad it was," Acosta remarked, after finishing 5.5 seconds behind race winner Francesco Bagnaia.

Analyzing his race performance, Acosta added, "I was maintaining the pace quite okay until lap 5-6 with Alex. I was not that far but then the last four-five laps, I started to lose seven tenths, eight tenths, one second. It’s dramatic. But I have to understand that there are things that are not in my hands. It looks like I did everything I had in my hands. Qualified fifth, yesterday going [into Q2] in PR [Practice] where no one was more or less believing. And today I finished [inside] top four."

Context of the New Restart Rule

The new regulation prohibiting riders from restarting after a crash within the final three minutes of practice or qualifying sessions was introduced to address safety concerns and prevent potential disruptions to other riders’ flying laps.

The rule aims to discourage riders from hastily rejoining the track after a crash, particularly when there is limited time remaining in the session. The concern is that a damaged bike or a rider attempting to rejoin the track without fully assessing the situation could create a hazardous environment for other competitors.

Prior to the rule’s implementation, there had been several instances where riders crashing late in a session quickly attempted to get back on track, sometimes impeding the progress of other riders who were in the midst of setting their fastest lap times.

Acosta’s MotoGP Season So Far

Pedro Acosta’s rookie season in MotoGP has been marked by flashes of brilliance and consistent learning. The young Spaniard, who previously won the Moto3 World Championship in 2021 and the Moto2 World Championship in 2023, made the step up to the premier class with high expectations.

Acosta’s transition to MotoGP has been closely watched, and his early performances have shown considerable promise. While he has yet to secure a podium finish, Acosta has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt to the demands of the RC16 and compete with more experienced riders.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Performance

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team has been working diligently to close the gap to the dominant Ducati machines. The team has invested heavily in development, focusing on improving the bike’s overall performance and addressing issues related to tyre degradation.

KTM’s efforts have yielded incremental improvements throughout the season, but the team still faces challenges in consistently matching the pace and race-long performance of the leading Ducati riders. The team’s focus remains on optimizing the bike’s setup for different track conditions and improving the riders’ ability to manage tyre wear during races.

Malaysian Grand Prix: Key Moments

The 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix weekend has been filled with notable events. Francesco Bagnaia’s dominant performance in the Sprint race underscored Ducati’s continued advantage. However, other manufacturers, including KTM and Aprilia, have shown glimpses of competitiveness.

The race weekend also saw several incidents, including crashes and penalties, which have influenced the grid positions and race outcomes. Fermin Aldeguer’s tyre pressure infringement and subsequent penalty highlighted the importance of adhering to technical regulations.

Looking Ahead

With the main Grand Prix race still to come, Pedro Acosta will be aiming to put the qualifying incident behind him and capitalize on his fifth-place grid position. The race presents an opportunity for Acosta to secure a strong result and continue his development in MotoGP.

The key for Acosta and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team will be managing tyre degradation and maintaining a consistent pace throughout the race. If Acosta can successfully navigate these challenges, he could be in contention for a podium finish.

The Malaysian Grand Prix remains a crucial event in the MotoGP calendar, offering riders and teams a final opportunity to gather data and refine their setups before the season finale. The race is known for its challenging conditions, including high temperatures and humidity, which test the riders’ physical endurance and the bikes’ reliability.

As the MotoGP season progresses, the competition continues to intensify, with riders and teams pushing the limits of performance in their quest for victory. The Malaysian Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with numerous storylines and potential outcomes adding to the excitement.