Pedro Acosta on multi-year KTM contract, but others will 'attack'

KTM's investment in the smaller grand prix classes, principally via the Red Bull Ajo team, paid off in dramatic style last season with the top two in the Moto2 World Championship and Moto3 title winner all under contract to the Austrian manufacturer.

Moto2 stars Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez have both been moved up to MotoGP with Tech3 KTM this season, with rookie Moto3 champion Pedro Acosta next in line for a premier-class place after slotting into the Ajo Moto2 team.

But if Acosta wants to follow in the footsteps of Fernandez, Joan Mir and Maverick Vinales by spending a single season in Moto2 before MotoGP, KTM would be presented with a real problem in finding a 2023 seat to accommodate the Spaniard.

Brad Binder is under contract until 2024, meaning either team-mate Miguel Oliveira (currently KTM's most successful grand prix rider in terms of race wins), Gardner or Fernandez would need to depart.

KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer said Acosta is on a multi-year contract but clauses mean some form of "attack" by rival MotoGP manufacturers is inevitable as they seek to pry the talented young Spaniard away.

"This is the luxury problem we have. We do so much junior work that we grow up good riders and the first big compliment is that other rivals want these riders also," said Beirer, who had to fend-off interest from Yamaha and Aprilia to retain Fernandez in 2022.

"Every time you sign a new contract it's a test and the first payback for us is the trust when a rider signs another contract. All four MotoGP riders have all signed already at least one new contract with us. We didn't force them to do it, they did it.

"With Pedro it's the same, he's so young. I mean, he's the super talent and of course other guys want him.

"I don’t want to lie because I don’t know exactly how long his contract is, he has a couple of years' contract. But that's not the reason why I want him to stay. I want him to stay because he thinks we are a good partner for him and I hope he will feel the same during this season when the attack will come from other manufacturers, other teams or somebody.

"But we cannot force them, we can just try to do our best to make them feel comfortable. We are working hard for that.

"He's also a special guy and he's a nice kid. To have the smile from this guy in the pits and garage is refreshing and it was also a lot of fun to go through the season with him, which also had ups and downs and difficult moments.

"But he never lost his smile, so let's hope he stays like this."