Acosta aims for third in MotoGP standings as Qatar weekend begins

Pedro Acosta has arrived in Qatar and says he sees everything as normal despite the controversy over the trip, which most riders opposed. He said he understands the concerns raised in the media but that riders must honour their contracts and act professionally towards the championship, teams and brands, adding that the decision to race was made because everything is under control.

Acosta comes off a strong weekend in Malaysia, where he won the Sprint and finished second on Sunday. He said the Losail circuit suits him, pointing to Binder's second place in 2024 and Viñales's competitiveness last year, while identifying Aprilia as the question mark and Ducati as also strong at the track. He hopes to be close to the podium.

With three races remaining, Acosta acknowledged that a title challenge is almost impossible, so his realistic goal is third place in the standings. He is close to Marco Bezzecchi, while Jorge Martin is far ahead, and Acosta says his aim is to close the gap on Bezzecchi.