During the three days of testing at Jerez who opened a new chapter in the history of the Moto2 category, he is a rider who has perhaps impressed more than others. He is the reigning Moto3 World Champion, George Martin. While his old adversaries and just as new as him in the discipline experienced all the difficulties of the world to get up to date, he, a KTM official with Brad Binder, was in the top 10. Enough to be considered an outsider of choice for the future season.
The Moto3 World Champion, George Martin, will participate in the Moto2 category after many celebrations experienced in 2018 with much praise collected. After eight victories in the hotly contested Moto3 2018 and securing the title, the Spaniard is tackling a more difficult task. The former Red Bull Rookies Cup winner was recalled to KTM and Red Bull and moved to the Ajo Moto2 team as teammate of Brad Binder. It thus succeeds Miguel Oliveira, left for MotoGP at Tech3 Red Bull KTM.
During the Jerez tests in November, the world champion and Moto2 rookie seriously injured his shoulder and leg on the first day. He returned in February to the same track for five days of testing and left with a top 10. Something to be excited about. But that's exactly what his boss doesn't want. Aki Ajo !
The boss of the eponymous team explains: “ Jorge is definitely one of the biggest talents we've seen recently. Everyone could see and experience this in the paddock. He is one of the best of the young generation. Of course, I expect him to be a top rider in Moto2 as well. It's always a question of time. No one can play up front in Moto2. Some can do it in a few months, others need a few years ».
He also recalls the condition of his pilot: “ He has recovered from his November accident, but I think he still doesn't have all the strength he had before the accident. For him, these five days were a difficult challenge. We can better assess its level ».
And this level is visibly high! To the point that some are already starting to compare him to a certain Maverick Vinales : " yes, Maverick succeeded. But you know my working style and my approach » tempers Aki Jo on Speedweek. “ If Jorge is in good shape, we have a good chance of making good progress at the start of the year. But it is not important to win one of the first races. It is more important for him to understand the work, to get to know the team and the bike. It is the basis for constant and increasing performance ».
Moto2, Jerez test times:
1.Brad Binder, KTM, 1:40,982 min
2. Sam Lowes, Kalex, 1:40,989
3. Iker Lecuona, KTM, 1:41,111
4. Luca Marini, Kalex, 1:41,146
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Kalex, 1:41,149
6. Alex Marquez, Kalex, 1:41,208
7. Nicolò Bulega, Kalex, 1:41,281
8. Jorge Navarro, Speed up, 1:41,302
9. Remy Gardner, Kalex, 1:41,378
10. Jorge Martin, KTM, 1:41,385
11. Marcel Schrötter, Kalex, 1:41,395
12. Tetsuta Nagashima, Kalex, 1:41,417
13. Augusto Fernandez, Kalex, 1:41,472
14. Tom Lühti, Kalex, 1:41,508
15. Bo Bendsneyder, NTS, 1:41,608
16. Xavi Virgo, Kalex, 1:41,625
17. Enea Bastianini, Kalex, 1:41,651
18. Joe Roberts, KTM, 1:41,706
19. Fabio Di Giannantonio, Speed-up, 1:41,736
20. Dominique Aegerter, MV Agusta, 1:41,953
21. Andrea Locatelli, Kalex, 1:42,011
22. Simone Corsi, Kalex, 1:42,53
23. Stefano Manzi, MV Agusta, 1:42,061
24. Jake Dixon, KTM, 1:42,158
25. Steven Odendaal, NTS, 1:42,168
26. Lukas Tulovic, KTM, 1:42,247
27. Somkiat Chantra, Kalex, 1:42,318
28. Philipp Öttl, KTM, 1:42,672
29. Khairul Idham Pawi, Kalex, 1:42,729
30. Marco Bezzecchi, KTM, 1:42,756
31. Dimas Ekky Pratama, Kalex, 1:43,441
32. Xavier Cardelús, KTM, 1:43,561
