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Jorge Martin tried hard to leave Sepang with a double victory. However, not even the gamble of the medium front, and a fiery duel with Francesco Bagnaia at the start of the race, were enough for the Madrid native to get the better of the rider from Piedmont, winner of the Malaysian GP. Postponed therefore to the last Round in Barcelona the title celebration of Martinator, who will have the opportunity to become Champion in front of his home crowd. Trying to conclude the world championship fight already in the Sprint race, thanks to a margin of 24 points accumulated on Pecco.
"I had so much fun today and I thank Pecco because, thanks to his level, I improved mine every day. We got stronger every day and we have never had a battle like this in our career. We were always close, but we never had a duel with what I was told was 11 overtakes in three laps. I felt strong enough to be able to do it, and I think mounting the medium tire on the front was the right choice for me, even though it was a bit of a gamble in the first few laps and it was really hard to be able to stop the bike," he recounted after the race.
"In any case, I am very happy that I was able to attack Pecco. It is very complicated to pass someone like him, who brakes very hard and stops the bike very well. But I was able to do it, and I think if I had been able to keep the first position for a whole lap, then everything would have changed a little bit. But at the end he had a formidable pace and it was too risky for me to keep attacking him - continued Jorge - So, I controlled my gap over the rider behind me and tried to keep it until the end. I'm riding very intelligently and although I gave everything today, not for show but because I wanted to win, I knew when to stop and when to settle for second place."
As in Japan, the Pramac rider in fact got a bit closer to Bagnaia in the last few laps. Only to give up the fight.
"I think I lost the least, also because I also could have crashed. The fact is that I think I relaxed too much after Marc Marquez's crash. I told myself that second position was enough, but then I saw that I was getting a little bit closer to Pecco and I thought that if I attacked, maybe I could close the gap - he explained - I think I made up four tenths in one lap, so I kept pushing. Also because I saw that he was struggling, and he went wide, because of the very difficult conditions today. But then I went a bit wide in Turn 9 and I risked crashing. So I did like in Japan and said to myself 'it's OK' and second place was perfect. We'll see the next time."
A situation that would probably not have changed much without the red flag.
"I think it would have been the same for me. I had planned to attack Pecco in Turn 14, but then I saw that he was very slow in Turn 11. I didn't see the red flag, but I realized it when I noticed he was looking outside. I was very close, but I don't think it would have changed anything," Martin said.
Despite the pressure of fighting against each other for the title for the second year in a row, the two rivals were still able to maintain a peaceful relationship.
"We have known each other well since 2015. We were very close friends in the past, and even though we don't have that relationship now, we are good with each other. We can have incredible battles like today's. An incredible duel, even if it wasn't on the last lap, and then talk to each other about it. I think we both enjoyed it and for me it would be perfect if it was like that in the future and I hope it will always stay like that," Jorge commented.
The Spaniard then talked about his expectations for the last round in Barcelona.
"For me nothing changes between Valencia and Barcelona because my performances are similar at those two circuits and I think Barcelona is a good circuit for both me and Bagnaia. Pecco won the last GP there, while I was second and quite close. I was missing a little something, but we will try to figure out why - he noted - Qualifying was a little bit my weak point there, but I will ask for help from my friend Aleix Espargaró, who has a real gift on that track. We'll see what conditions we'll find in November, but I think Michelin will find good solutions. It will be good to be at home. There will be a lot of people there to support me. Certainly, today's is still not a good day for the Spanish, after everything that happened in Spain. So, this podium is for them and I will try to win this title not for me, but for those people, my team and all the people around me. They deserve it."
Last chance to become MotoGP World Champion?
"No, not at all," he replied, "I still have many years ahead of me in MotoGP. I'm at a very good level and I don't mind proving my worth. We will see what the future holds, but at the moment I have improved a lot, I am focused on the present and I have a great opportunity, which I do not want to waste."
The Ducatista has confidence in his means.
"I have confidence in my work, in the way I got here and I think it's a privilege to have reached this point with a two-time Champion like Pecco. I think only he, Marquez and Valentino have managed to win two titles in a row (actually there have been many riders who have succeeded in the premier class, ed.). I'm happy to have gained seven points and I feel that I'm a little bit closer to the goal, and although it's not over yet, I will definitely believe in it until the very end. The closer we get to the end, the more difficult and mental everything becomes, so I will prepare well," underlined Martin, who then commented on Bagnaia's 10 Sunday wins, "He is in the official team, he has everything to win. While I have a team of 12 people with whom I fight against the world and with whom I have achieved 7 Sprints, 3 wins and 29 or 30 podiums. We have done the most."
It is hard to sum up this season in a nutshell, but Martin has no doubt that it has been the opposite of Bagnaia's.
"Shitty Sundays, but I loved Saturdays," he commented with a laugh, echoing the words of Pecco, whom he went on to describe with three qualities: "Champion. Because he is incredible and has everything: he is complete, very fast and does well everywhere. Then he has a lot of resilience. He bounced back by winning from a bad moment like yesterday. Then he is 'the Sunday man,' because in the last two years he has been the best."
Going back to talk about the Grand Prix, Jorge explained the reasons behind the counter-intuitive choice to start with a soft set on the front and rear.
"The medium was definitely the best choice for me," he reiterated, "I focused on myself: I tried that tire on Friday and this morning, it worked very well and I felt competitive. Also, I would have had something more in case I was behind, because I think with the soft it would have been much worse. I saw that Pecco strategized a little bit at the beginning, but for me it would have been the same and I'm glad I made that decision."
