In the aftermath of a race that saw him relinquish his leadership position, Jorge Martín of the Prima Pramac Racing team has been vocal about his performance and potential. A mere 24 hours after taking the lead, a mishap during the race saw Martín fall, turning his leadership into an 18-point deficit behind Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia.
Reflecting on the race, Martín told DAZN, “I was quite focused, as seen from the start. I was setting a very good pace today.” He felt comfortable during the race and was even increasing his lead when he made a minor error. “I felt good, but there was a moment when Maverick seemed to be catching up. I pushed a bit more and managed to extend the lead to almost 3 seconds. However, I made a small mistake in turn 10, went a bit wide, touched some dirt, and by turn 11, I was down. Crashes there are almost always inevitable. I tried to hold on, but it wasn’t to be,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Martín remains confident about his abilities. “I believe I’m the fastest, without a doubt, and I hope to prove it in the upcoming races,” he asserted. He acknowledged the challenges of the track, noting that stepping even slightly out of line can be detrimental due to the dirt. He emphasized that he had been cautious, especially in turn 10, but the error there led to his fall in turn 11.
This race has significantly impacted the championship standings. Bagnaia has reclaimed the lead, now holding an 18-point advantage over Martín. Reflecting on the race and his performance, Martín said, “Today, I made a mistake. But having speed on every track, having completed many races without errors, statistically, a mistake was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m frustrated it happened today, especially on a track where I’m fast. However, I believe I can dominate in many other races and reclaim the lead.”
Martín’s optimism and confidence in his abilities are evident. He has showcased his prowess on the track multiple times and believes that he can bounce back from this setback. The upcoming races will be crucial for both Martín and Bagnaia as they vie for the championship title.