Oscar Piastri beats Pedro Acosta in off-road showdown

Oscar Piastri won the off-road challenge staged by Quad Lock with MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta as part of Young Guns Part 2. The McLaren driver came out on top in a contest between two specialists more accustomed to very different machines and disciplines.

The event followed an earlier karting challenge, held on asphalt and won by Piastri on familiar ground. This time, the dirt track at Monti MX presented a different test. With big jumps, deep ruts and slippery corners, Acosta might have seemed the favourite: he usually rides 300-horsepower motorcycles. But he said he felt more comfortable with the buggy’s safety equipment than with his usual motorcycle gear. “I feel too safe. Like, if I flip, I will not hit my head with the ground, you know?” he joked, pointing to the four-point harness and roll cage.

Piastri, meanwhile, was glad he did not have to balance the vehicle. Before the race, he said that staying on four wheels suited him, while racing on dirt was unfamiliar territory. He adapted quickly, winning both the sprint race and the speed-trap challenge.

The final race brought more drama. Acosta said he made a mistake at the first hairpin and then tried to recover the time he had lost. That push sent him into a high-speed jump. “I was close enough to kill myself,” he recalled with a laugh. Piastri stayed composed, in keeping with the smooth driving style that has brought him nine F1 Grand Prix wins over the course of his career. He ultimately claimed the Young Guns crown, leaving open the possibility of a third instalment.

Acosta suggested evening things up next time by putting both drivers on two wheels. Piastri quickly ruled out getting on a dirt bike. “I think McLaren will not be so happy if we go for it,” Acosta joked. “No, I don’t think so,” Piastri replied with a smile. Acosta said he remained open to another four-wheel challenge and raised the prospect of Young Guns Part 3. The full showdown is available on Quad Lock’s YouTube channel.