KTM test ride🦄r Dani Pedrosa says the Austrian manufacturer had to make “radical changes” to its MotoGP bike to become a podium contender again in the latter half of 2024.

The RC16 started the season off as one of the more competitive bikes on the grid, with Brad B𒁏inder finishing second on the opening night of the championship in Qatar.

Tech3 rook💦ie Pedro Acosta then managed back-to-back 🤡grand prix podiums in Portugal and America.

But, aside from a handful of sprint rostrum𝔍s, KTM didn’t s🌸core another GP podium until Acosta was third at Aragon, from which point the Spaniard has been in much stronger form again.

In recen🅺t weeks, KTM has introduced a number things to its bike, such as a new aero package and a new chassis that Acosta has takenᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ a liking to.

On the Duralavita podcast with Jorge Lorenzo, test rider Pedrosa noted: “In light of the evolution of the others, from mid-championship we had to intervene🍒 with radical changes to ensure that the resultsꦕ returned.

“We selected the parts that could be better and Acosta himself, with his way of riding, was able to take adv💛antage of it.”

Acosta becoming “a leader” of KTM

Acosta scored a first pole position in MotoGP last we♏ekend at the Japanese Grand Prix and was on course for a m🔥aiden sprint win when he crashed out of the lead late on.

He was just as strong in the early stages of the grand prix while 🐷running second before he took another tumble.

And💦 while he has now crashed in three of the last꧑ four grands prix, Acosta’s speed continues to impress those in the paddock and within KTM.

Pedrosa says the 20-year-ol💦d rookie is becoming “more and more a leader” within KTM as the season goes on.

“What is he missing? We need to help him a b☂it with the 🤪bike, that’s clear,” Pedrosa added.

“But the changes made in the 𓂃summer are helping him and he’s shown it in the last races. It must be said that the level of the Ducati riders is very high, so he just needs to gain a bit of experience.

“💙He surprised me in a positive way. I didn’t know him very൲ well but I really like how he is becoming more and more a leader within the team.

“Nex♉t year he will be in the official team and this will help him take a step forward.”