Jorge Martin's Motegi weekend didn't go according to plan. Only 4th in the Sprint Race and 2nd in Sunday's GP, the Prima Pramac team rider lost important points or, rather, gave them for the title fight to his rival, Pecco Bagnaia, who's now at -10 in the general riders standings.
The Spanish rider - who's often made mistakes, like in the Q2 in Japan when he had to settle for an 11th starting position after a fall - has admitted that he feels psychologically under pressure. A handicap that the Italian rider doesn't seem to have and that again (although he has also made a lot of mistakes) could work in his favor.
Speaking to Marca about the difficulties he faces in dealing with race weekends, he revealed: "They're hard to handle, and there's a lot of pressure. Sometimes, I'm not focused enough precisely because of this aspect," he admitted.
Yet, he never lacks self-confidence: "I know I have to be very prepared for qualifying because, in the end, it's the key to the race on Sunday. Likewise, I'm aware of my strength and that I can do it even starting eleventh. But it's clear that, if you're up in front, it becomes easier."
Beating anxiety, however, may prove more complicated than getting the better of his opponents. "I try to focus on how I feel on the bike but, when I get off, there's a lot of noise, there are thoughts and quite a lot of headaches," he confessed. "Normally, when you go out on the track, it all disappears, and that's important because, if the pressure takes over, I'd freeze up, and I wouldn't be able to ride."
This kind of issue is nothing new for the future Aprilia rider. "This nervousness, this discomfort, has been with me forever, ever since I was a child, and it will stay forever. When I finish a race and leave the circuit, I'm much more relaxed, but I already know that those feelings will come back again next Saturday and Sunday in Australia. It's something I have to live with," he finally concluded.