Teenage rookie sensation Pedro Acosta will step up into the Moto2 World Championship for 2022 with KTM as part of an all-new rider line-up that also includes Augusto Fernandez.
Acosta has been the breakout star of the 2021 Grand Prix season, the youngster - aged only 17 - winning three of his first four Moto3 races, forging a sizeable advantage at the head of the standings he has sustained into the latter half of the year.
With now five wins to his name in 12 events on the factory KTM bike, Acosta holds a 46 point advantage over Sergio Garcia on the GasGas entry.
His efforts have duly assured him a direct route into Moto2, where he will compete with the leading KTM-backed Ajo Motorsport team, which currently holds 1-2 positions in the standings with Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, both of which will be promoted to the Tech 3 KTM MotoGP team for 2022.
“Jumping to Moto2 was my goal because I believe it’s the step I need to make," Acosta said. "Of course, there is always more to learn - and I could do that in Moto3 - but when it comes to details and my development as a rider then it feels like the right move.
“It’s a big advantage to stay in the Red Bull KTM Ajo team as we now have a year of working together and it’s always important to keep a good and positive feeling with the people around you. The team have really helped me in my first world championship year.
"It’s been a big step into the world championship but I worked for it and I’m happy with how things have been going.”
On the other side of the garage will be Fernandez, who switches from Marc VDS Racing. The Spaniard made his GP debut in Moto2 in 2017, before a breakout campaign in 2019 yielded three wins and a move to the erstwhile dominant Marc VDS outfit.
Though his form hasn’t reached those highs since, a run of recent podiums have convinced KTM to induct him into its effective rider programme.
“I’m really happy and satisfied to be joining Red Bull KTM Ajo," Fernandez said. "The team has been a reference in the category now for many years by winning races and fighting for championships. I think that experience of going for titles will really help me next year and I’m already looking forward to working with them.”
