Tech3 GasGas rider Pedro Acosta elected to praise the Spanish fans rather than focus on the Championship standings after a runner-up spot in a chaotic Jerez MotoGP Sprint elevated him to second in the table.
The Jerez Sprint was a treacherous affair as a dry track was littered with damp patches as a result of earlier rain.
This paved the way for chaos as 15 of the 25 riders crashed at one stage meaning those who stayed upright had a chance at success.
Rookie sensation Acosta was able to navigate the tricky conditions, rising from 10th on the grid to finish second after Saturday’s 12 lap race.
“Well, at the end, I mean, we know that we have the pace, but it was quite tough starting 10th after the qualifying,” Acosta told MotoGP Reporter Simon Crafar in front of a jubilant Spanish crowd.
“It was quite tough, the first lap and also the start was quite nice, overtaking [Di Giannantonio] and other boys. It was super nice.
“Also, with the mid-condition in turns 5 and 8, it was not quite easy because the wet patch was quite wet, let’s say, and it was easy to lose the rear there.
“And it would happen when I was behind Enea [Bastianini] that I touched the wet patch and I go wide.
“But anyway, we are getting closer in the sprint. We are getting closer to our target and that’s it.
“In the end, being second in the championship doesn’t matter, but to make a podium in front of these fans is completely amazing.”
Acosta could do nothing to trouble Sprint winner and championship leader Jorge Martin, however, who benefitted when Marc Marquez crashed out of the lead.
Whilst happy with the win, Martin admitted that if the weather is consistent on Sunday, the Grand Prix will be an altogether different prospect than the Sprint.
“Well, it was a difficult race,” Martin told Crafar.
“The track conditions were super hard.
“I did a good start, but then I saw [Marc] Marquez was coming, even if I was pushing a lot.
“As soon as Marquez overtook me, because I did a mistake on corner 7, so he caught me, I tried to follow him, I tried to push him, and yeah, he did a mistake.
“But tomorrow, for sure, in dry conditions, will be a different story. Hopefully, we can enjoy today, because winning here in Jerez is amazing and I’m really, really happy.”
