Pedro Acosta’s second place at Sepang reinforced a remarkably consistent run in MotoGP. The KTM rider, who is bound for Ducati, has finished on the podium in four of the last six races and sits fourth in the championship with 295 points. He is also six places and 161 points clear of Enea Bastianini, currently the next-best KTM rider in the standings.

For Red Bull KTM Factory Racing crew chief Paul Trevathan, however, Acosta’s most impressive quality is not simply his natural speed. It is the speed with which he learns, adapts and changes his approach when a race weekend refuses to fall into place. Trevathan described that ability as “astonishing” after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Acosta’s preparation away from MotoGP appears to be part of that adaptability. Trevathan said the Spaniard trains on motocross, flat-track, trials and enduro bikes, and regularly exposes himself to different riding demands. He recalled receiving photographs after crashes in which a hand grip had come off Acosta’s bike, only for the rider to continue riding for the rest of the day.

That willingness to keep experimenting carries into the KTM garage. Trevathan said Acosta can find a way to combine the available elements across a weekend even when he is frustrated or does not fully understand the bike. In his view, Acosta is outperforming the apparent level of the package, while also demonstrating to the rest of the team that hard work and a better understanding of the motorcycle can matter as much as the machine itself. The crew chief added that Acosta’s determination ultimately makes KTM look good.