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A teenager from Mazarrón has become world number one in Moto3 after winning the championship in Portugal this weekend. Nicknamed ‘El Tiburón’ (‘The Shark’), 17-year-old Pedro Acosta is now the second youngest champion in history.

 

The title came on Sunday November 7 at the Grand Prix in Portimão in the Algarve, where Acosta won a decisive victory over the Italian Dennis Foggia, three years his senior. There was still one Grand Prix left to go, to be held in Cheste, Valencia the next Sunday, but the Mazarrón youth ended things in style, a week early.

 

 

With this win, Acosta became World Champion in his first season, the first rookie to win the Moto3 championship since 1990 and the first Spaniard ever. He also enters into the hall of fame of Murcian sport thanks to an achievement only comparable to the silver medal of Antonio Peñalver from Alhama in Barcelona ‘92 or the gold medal won by Alejandro Valverde from Murcia in the World Road Cycling Championships in 2018.

 

He missed out on becoming the youngest ever world champ by just one day – Loris Capirossi was the youngest ever champion in his first season in 125cc in 1990 at the age of 17 years and 165 days. Acosta won his title at the age of 17 years and 166 days.

 

His nickname ‘Tiburón’ has a clear origin. He was born into a family of fishermen in Puerto de Mazarrón, and this is how his grandfather and his father, who drew a shark as his first logo, earned their living. The family boat, the ‘Peretujo’ was his first sponsor.

 

Acosta will now make the jump to Moto2 with his current team, Reb Bull KTM Ajo. He has committed to KTM for three years, despite the fact that Valentino Rossi, who retires this season but will continue in the World Championship in 2022 with his VR46 team, wanted to sign him and was willing to pay a compensation clause of around half a million euros.

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón