Pedro Acosta could not secure his first Grand Prix victory as a MotoGP rider at Portimao, but did claim another podium.

In the penultimate round of the season, there were hopes that Pedro Acosta would claim his first Grand Prix victory as a MotoGP rider.

After finishing second in the Sprint Race on Saturday, there was a realistic chance that Acosta could become a MotoGP race winner. However, he ended the Grand Prix on Sunday in third place, and could not match Alex Marquez or Marco Bezzecchi.

"It is difficult to battle when from the beginning we have less," Acosta told TNT Sports after the Portuguese Grand Prix.

"It is true that at the end I was quite fast, like yesterday, but we lost a lot at the beginning. For this it is a thing we have to think about, because I was missing the Warm-Up to try to be second. We have back-to-back podiums, so we are showing good potential even in difficult races."

'I am trying to become a better rider...'

Acosta explained that he had spoken with Red Bull KTM Test Rider, Dani Pedrosa, before the Portuguese Grand Prix, and was looking for advice from the experienced Spaniard.

The 21-year-old knows that KTM still lacks compared to Ducati and Aprilia, but keeps trying to work on himself to make up for his disadvantage.

"Dani [Pedrosa] has a lot of experience, and we were talking about the race from yesterday and trying to manage in a different way," he explained.

"At the end of the day, it is still my second season in MotoGP, and there are still a lot of things, like maybe when I want to be at the front like yesterday, and we make small mistakes like this. We have many weak points at the moment, and I am trying to become a better rider from this.

"Dani is, if not the best, one of the best for this, he is doing a great job."

There is one more round left of the 2025 MotoGP season at Valencia, and Acosta is still searching for his first Grand Prix victory. The Spaniard refused to state whether he would be in victory contention, but he has previous form around Valencia in Moto2 and Moto3.

"Well, let’s see what is going on in Valencia. It has been a long time since MotoGP raced there," he stated.

"The last time MotoGP was there, I was making my MotoGP debut; it is my home Grand Prix, so we will see."