Balaton Park, Hungary – 25 August 2025: The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad is enjoying its strongest spell of the 2025 MotoGP season, with Pedro Acosta delivering a stunning P2 finish at the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary, marking his second Sunday podium in three races. The result confirms a major turnaround for the Austrian manufacturer, who have consistently been in the podium fight since Aragon.

Acosta Rewards KTM’s Hard Work

After a tough opening half of the season, Acosta has emerged as KTM’s spearhead. Crashing out in the first race in Qatar and only scraping a top 10 in Argentina, the #37 has since grown in confidence. His Sprint podium at the Red Bull Ring and rostrum at Brno set the tone, but his Balaton Park P2 showed KTM can now challenge the frontrunners.

Reflecting on the result, Acosta credited his mechanics for their relentless effort:

“Thanks to the team who built two new bikes both days – they saved my weekend. Since Brno we’ve made solid progression and I’m super happy. We shouldn’t expect too much, but we keep going in this direction and we’ve improved a lot.”

Acosta now sits fifth in the championship standings, underlining KTM’s climb up the order.

Binder Confident of “Best Second Half of the Season”

Teammate Brad Binder has also found form, finishing inside the top eight in four consecutive rounds. The South African praised KTM’s improvements in bike balance and braking stability:

“The last three GPs have been the best of the season so far. The bike is turning better, the front is more solid, and overall we’ve made a step forward. There’s still a lot more to come, and I think we’re in for a strong second half of the year.”

Binder’s growing consistency ensures KTM has both factory riders pushing at the sharp end, an encouraging sign for the remaining eight rounds.

Tech 3 Adds Firepower

It’s not just the factory team enjoying success. Enea Bastianini claimed a Sprint podium at Brno, while stand-in rider Pol Espargaró secured a top-eight finish at Balaton, proving the competitiveness of the Red Bull KTM Tech 3squad.

Espargaró noted the importance of collective momentum:

“We’ve worked a lot in the background with the test team. As soon as you get one result, everyone gets pumped – it’s a positive cycle. The guys are enjoying it, I’m enjoying it, and hopefully Maverick [Viñales] will be back at his best soon.”

From Early Struggles to Podium Contenders

KTM’s transformation has been dramatic. The first half of 2025 saw the orange camp struggle with consistency, particularly in qualifying. But since Aragon, the Austrian manufacturer has been a constant threat in the fight for the podium.

• Aragon: Breakthrough with both Acosta and Binder fighting inside the top four.
• Assen: Acosta battled for a podium, showing the pace was there.
• Brno: First Sunday podium of the season for KTM courtesy of Acosta, plus a Sprint rostrum for Bastianini.
• Red Bull Ring: Sprint podium and strong P4 for Acosta.
• Balaton Park: Second Sunday rostrum in three races, boosting Acosta to fifth in the standings.

With eight races still to go, the question now is whether KTM can turn consistent podiums into race wins.

What’s Next for KTM?

The second half of the season looks promising for KTM, who have found form just as the championship heads into its decisive flyaway rounds. Acosta’s rapid development, Binder’s consistency, and strong contributions from Tech 3 riders suggest that KTM could yet spring a surprise before the season ends.

MotoGP fans will be watching closely: Can KTM’s resurgence carry them all the way to victory before 2025 is over?

Report and Picture Courtesy: www.motogp.com