Jorge Martin wakes up at the right time in this MotoGP season which is only two half-time deadlines since the Catalan Grand Prix ended. This is also the period which sets the final decisions for contracts for 2023 and beyond. On the Montmèlo track, just before leaving to have surgery on one hand, the 2021 rookie in the category took a solid second place at the end of a race where he reconciled with his GP22…
George Martin scored points literally and figuratively near Barcelona this past weekend. Returning to the top of the ranking and also the checkered flag, the Spaniard put himself back in the crosshairs of the decision-makers of Ducati for a possible red combination in 2023. On his Catalan performance, he remembers: “ I left very quickly at the start. I overtook Fabio Di Giannantonio and I was also able to catch Zarco, then Nakagami passed very quickly. I was already thinking of a disaster. He lost front control and crashed entering the first corner. I was lucky to be able to dodge. I saw Pecco fall and it was difficult to regain concentration. But then I was very consistent and took care of tire management. I tried to be in front of Aleix and have a small gap so that the front tire kept the right temperature. But he fought back, it was a good fight ».
He pursues : " Aleix Espargaró pulled on the tires in the final kilometers thinking it was the last lap. On the penultimate lap, I came pretty close, but I was thinking of trying at turn 10. I would have tried, but I don't know how it would have ended. When I saw him cutting, I thought he had broken the engine and I cut it too so as not to break mine because of the heat. It's a shame, but he's in good shape and he deserved it ».
On his fight with his teammate Johann zarco, He specifies : " when Aleix pushed very hard in the last two, it allowed me to open a gap with Zarco. There were rounds where I suffered. I thought about what I shouldn't think about, but I saw that Johann was arriving and I insisted again. Thanks to this I forgot the pain. I knew I was going to be in the tough, but by managing the rubber and the angle to manage in each turn, it gave me a second ».
Jorge Martin: “ I feel like I'm part of a big family at Pramac«
With this mention, George Martin reminds us that he is not at the top of his form with a hand that encountered the scalpel this Monday: “ for the long term I needed this operation otherwise the problem will return. The solution of infiltrating has harms in the long term and the fact of operating helps me for the future. I hope to 100% make it to Germany. There are risks, I hope they focused on doing a good job. A podium gives me a cushion of calm. Germany is a very good track for me ". In this regard, the Pramac team published a photo of Jorge Martin on social networks after the carpal tunnel operation on his right hand carried out in Modena.
Less than George Martin reached his first podium since the Argentine Grand Prix on April 3. A true liberation: “ being on the podium after a difficult month with a lot of people talking… It wasn't easy to stay fully focused. But I showed that I was the same 'Martinator' as at the beginning of the year. I am confident for the next races because this bike is finally working. It is the most important. I am very happy. I feel like my bike and my confidence are coming back ».
He explains this change of heart: “ it's just the feeling on the front. I can steer in corners again and slide on the rear wheel. If you look at the photos from two weeks ago, I couldn't do it, I had no feeling for the front. I was just trying not to fall. If you have to ride like that, it's impossible ", said the winner of Spielberg 1 from the previous year. “ I tried to eliminate everything. I had a few moments, but at least I felt them. In the other races I simply fell. I'm happy, the team is really happy. I feel like I'm part of a big family at Pramac. Hopefully we can build on this result. I hope I can also be competitive in Germany » he ends, specifying that he is not worried about his future at Ducati : " wherever I am, it will be on a competitive bike and I'm sure it will be in a great team ».
MotoGP Catalonia Race: classification
Credit MotoGP.com
