Pedro Acosta says his priorities will not change because he is expected to join Ducati alongside Marc Marquez in 2027. With Marquez fighting Aprilia for the title, Acosta’s focus through the final day of the 2026 season remains delivering the strongest possible results for KTM. His message is deliberately clear: there are no friends around him when the racing begins.

Acosta arrives at the Australian Grand Prix fifth in the World Championship standings. He is one point behind Ai Ogura and 13 points ahead of Fabio di Giannantonio, while his objective for the closing Grands Prix is to put KTM back on the podium. Phillip Island offers a useful reference point. Last year, the Spaniard finished on the Sprint podium and placed inside the top five in the Grand Prix.

The task is made harder by Aprilia’s form at the circuit. The Italian manufacturer won both Phillip Island races last season, with Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez, and Acosta believes the team has taken a major step forward since then, despite already being quick at the track. He is also hoping for heavy rain. In his view, a wet Phillip Island can give riders more room to create a difference and produce a better show for the fans. KTM’s immediate objective is therefore straightforward: get as close as possible to Aprilia and turn every opportunity into a strong result, regardless of the wider title implications for Marquez.