MotoGP™ is finally back in action as engines started to roar again in Malaysia this week, with newly crowned Moto2™ World Champion and sensation Pedro Acosta getting his 2024 campaign going with a three day-Sepang Shakedown. Sole rookie, he was joined on track by test riders on the first day, and other MotoGP™ riders allowed to test following the new concessions rules shared the track with him from day 2. Three important days of experience were taken before the rest of the class gets their first school day on February 6 at the Sepang Test, for the first three days of official testing of the year.

Day 1: Acosta impresses as he finishes just 0.152 seconds from Dani Pedrosa in the timesheets

Looking fresh in newly revealed Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 colours, the rookie finally reunited with his RC16 after a first positive day in Valencia back in November. The least we can say is that Acosta delivered an impressive first day at school after he finished just 0.152 seconds away from fastest rider Dani Pedrosa with a 1’59.385.  That is 1.894 seconds off the all-time lap record of the Sepang International Circuit, taken by Pecco Bagnaia in qualifying of the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix just two months ago. Not bad at all for what was only day number 2 on a MotoGP™ bike, young shark!

Day 2: Acosta third fastest on second day as other MotoGP™ riders join the Shakedown

The learning process continued on Friday in hot and humid Sepang as Pedro Acosta continued the work to discover the category, sharing the track with more riders than the past day. Halfway through the day, he had already taken down his fastest lap time to 1’58.531, closing the gap to the circuit’s record (1’57.491). The day was later on interrupted by a quite heavy afternoon rain, and the rookie closed the day third.

Day 3: Pedro Acosta fastest on final day of Shakedown

The rookie continued his efforts for a final day before being joined by the rest of the class next week, and rode at a decent pace as he continued to take his times down, this time with a 1'58.189. A small crash put an end to the morning session, before the afternoon one was again disrupted by a heavy rain. After that, Acosta got his first sensation on a wet track with the MotoGP™ bike. He closed the final day of Sepang Shakedown at the top of the timesheets, 0.066 seconds ahead of Pol Espargaro.

Very positive three days for the young rookie who is slowly but surely finding his marks with his new crew and his GASGAS RC16. Two well deserved rest days are now ahead, before we do it all over again for another three days, but this time, with all the MotoGP™ class.