Pedro Acosta had a weekend full of mixed feelings at the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island. Acosta showed his usual talent and determination, but once again he faced the same old problems that have been following him all season.

On Saturday, things looked bright. Acosta finished the Sprint race on the podium, proving that he has the speed to fight at the top. His performance gave fans hope that Sunday’s main race could bring another strong result, maybe even a podium.

At the start of the Grand Prix, everything seemed to go to plan. Acosta got off the line well and quickly settled into third place. He looked calm and focused, controlling his pace and managing his tyres carefully. For many laps, it looked like he was on course for another great finish.

But around lap 16, things started to go wrong. The tyres on his KTM began to lose grip much faster than expected. Acosta tried everything he could, changing his riding style, adjusting the power delivery, and using more traction control. but nothing seemed to help. The same problem that had caused him trouble in previous races came back again.

By the time he reached the final laps, Acosta was fighting just to keep his position. He crossed the finish line in fifth place, ahead of Luca Marini, but was clearly disappointed, and who wouldn’t be, after running second not long ago? He had done everything right, yet the result didn’t show how hard he had worked.

After the race, Acosta didn’t hide his frustration. He said post-race, “We need to understand why all four KTMs lose so much grip, even when we manage the tyres carefully. Every weekend it’s the same thing.” He explained that it’s hard to stay motivated when you spend the whole race managing your tyres, only to end up in the same situation as if you hadn’t managed them at all.

He added, “If I rode flat out for 27 laps and had this problem, I could understand it. But when I ride at 70% and still lose the same amount of grip, it’s difficult to know what to do in the middle of the race.”

Acosta also admitted that Phillip Island is probably the worst circuit for KTM this season, because of the fast corners and high tyre wear. Still, he pointed out that all four KTM riders suffered from the same problem, even though they have different riding styles. That suggests that the issue might come from the bike’s setup or from how the team managed the tyres, rather than from the riders themselves.

Although finishing fifth is not a bad result, especially when the race is difficult, Acosta was not happy. He said, “It’s not every day that fifth place feels good. I’m tired of dealing with the same things every weekend. We have to find a solution.”

The issue seems to be technical rather than personal. Since all the KTM riders are struggling with tyre grip, the team will likely need to work closely with Michelin and their engineers to understand what is happening. Possible causes could include tyre pressure, chassis balance, electronic settings, or even race strategy.

For Acosta, the frustration is understandable. He has the talent, the pace, and the motivation to win races, but the machinery under him is not yet allowing him to show his full potential. Still, he remains positive and focused. His calm attitude and honest communication with the team are proof of his growing maturity as a factory rider.