Pedro Acosta’s head-to-head with Brad Binder at KTM in 2025 was as one-sided as it gets. Acosta outqualified Binder in every single session.

It was the only qualifying matchup that finished 22-0, and Acosta even admitted that single-lap pace isn’t his strongest suit.

The races didn’t offer much relief for Binder either. In the 30 Grands Prix where both riders finished, Acosta led the way 26-4.

This contributed to an enormous gap in the standings, with Acosta finishing fourth on 307 points and Binder placing 11th on 155.

Pedro Acosta credits Brad Binder for helping his development

But it was a different story the year before. Acosta was still with Tech3 in his rookie campaign, while Binder outscored him by two points.

Binder collected points in 17 races, while Acosta, who crashed more than anyone else that season, managed just 14 finishes inside the top 15.

Acosta has often spoken about Binder’s influence during that period. The South African has now started over 100 premier class races and been a KTM regular for more than ten years.

“I’ve learned a lot from the KTM guys because I’ve been linked to them since my first year in Moto3,” Acosta told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Brad taught me a lot last year because he was faster than me. This helped make me the rider I am today.”

Pedro Acosta’s outlook on racing shaped by Dani Pedrosa

Alongside his work with Binder, Acosta has also benefitted from the experience of Dani Pedrosa, who remains involved as a test rider despite no longer taking part in wildcards for KTM.

Acosta says his regular chats with the former teammate of Marc Marquez have shifted how he approaches the sport.

“I take inspiration from Dani Pedrosa,” he revealed. “He has a lot of experience. He’s one of the last riders to have ridden two-strokes. So I think he allows me to see racing differently. We talk often.”

Pedrosa has praised Acosta for his maturity, and in his second year, it’s clear he’s taken steps forward that neither Binder nor any of KTM’s satellite riders have been able to match.