Eyes on the prize
Jorge Martin is a very, very talented rider, one that made the world take notice last year in a truly stunning maiden campaign. From the get-go, he was quick. He secured a pole and a podium at round two, before a terrifying crash at Portimao put him out of action for four races with multiple fractures in his hands, ankle, and leg. Three races later, after the summer break, he stormed to a maiden win in Austria. He ended the year with four podiums and four poles.
Now it’s time for the tricky second season. All eyes are on Martin and big things are expected from him on the GP22. So, could he mount a title challenge? Why not? Whilst the team is a satellite effort, Pramac have full-spec factory Desmocedicis to play with.
Martin certainly has all of the credentials as a rider. To have mastered the switch from a Moto2 bike to a fullblown MotoGP monster so quickly is no mean feat, especially a complicated model such as the Desmocedici with all of its mechanical and electrical wizardry.
The last rider to score a pole in only his second MotoGP race before Martin was Marc Marquez.
He has strong race pace and is stunningly quick over a flying lap on a Saturday afternoon, whilst he already has that winning mentality from last season to carry over. He’s a cool, laidback character too, a credential we know is so important in motorsport. To have overcome an injury like his and get back to winning ways says a lot about his insatiable personality.
He won’t sit back or be in awe of his more experienced rivals either, they’re just competition. Remember what he said about Marquez’s move on him at Silverstone after the Honda man took him out on lap one: “He didn’t measure in a good way because he thought there was space and for sure there wasn’t. But I hope he can learn from this one and improve for the future.” Few riders would suggest that, and certainly not rookies.
The possibility is there and so is the motivation. Another good year and Martin could find himself on a fully red bike alongside Pecco Bagnaia in 2023.
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JORGE MARTIN
PRAMAC RACING DUCATI ‘TIME FOR THE TRICKY
SECOND SEASON. ALL EYES ARE ON
MARTIN’