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After the events in Valencia, it will be Barcelona that will host the final battle for the 2024 title. Jorge Martin is arriving there with his head full of thoughts, and a calm strengthened by his 24-point lead in the standings, but also by a personal growth that has brought him one step closer to the proverbial calm of his rival, Pecco Bagnaia. For the Spaniard who is thinking now more of the present than the future, it is a relationship the one between the two Ducati riders that has its roots ever since their first steps in the minor categories. A rivalry that has blossomed then in recent years, made of mutual respect, as evidenced by the sincere embrace between the two during the conference.
Jorge Martin admits that he has always chased his rival, who has always been one step ahead of him, but now the Spaniard seems to have caught up, at least in the standings, he is now the one being chased. Although he has won fewer victories for himself than his rival Bagnaia this season, Martin has learned from past experience and admits that he is no longer in a hurry, no longer wanting to rush, no longer wanting to make mistakes. Finally, however, there remains in the background of this final battle, which has the flavor of a rematch, a side note: it will still be a Ducati that will carry the next world champion in the saddle, but one of them on Tuesday could already be wearing the gear of a rival team, let go by force majeure, and could also take the winner's crown with him.
"I'm happy to be here again for another year fighting for the title against Pecco," Jorge Martin began, "it was incredible given the level we've reached in MotoGP that we both made such a difference. And it's also great that we will do it here in Barcelona, to help Valencia. I'm looking forward to this weekend, in these days of waiting I've had my head full of thoughts."
What thoughts?
"My head has always been a machine trying to predict the future, I've been trying to calm down and focus on the present even though it hasn't always been easy."
What will your strategy be this weekend, will you focus everything on finishing ahead of Pecco in the Sprint to be calm on Sunday or will you try not to take any risks?
"No, the goal will be to continue doing what I have always done throughout the season. I want to try to be competitive right from Friday, and what comes out of that on race weekend will be a direct result of that. I think I will finally be able to race just for myself without looking at any other rider, and if I can take the title as early as Saturday that would be great, if not we will fight it out on race Sunday. But the priority will be to be competitive and enjoy the moment. I want to finish it but I don't want to rush it. I've been forcing myself lately because when I've been in a hurry in the past I've made mistakes."
According to Stoner, Ducati could favor Pecco if it wanted to.
"I'm happy that Ducati is allowing me to fight on a level playing field with Bagnaia, I think sportingly it's the right thing."
Compared to last year your sides have reversed, now you are no longer the pursuer but the pursued. In what do you feel you have changed?
"Compared to last year, I have approached this weekend differently. I'm not referring to the situation in the standings, last season I was constantly thinking about making history, winning the title, which would change my life. This year I just focused on what I know I have control over, which is my performance on the track. I try to give 100 percent, I think last year it wasn't like that, but now I feel I'm in great shape. I want to give my best for those who have been close to me, for my family, for the journalists, it will be a weekend like any other, and on Tuesday I will get on an Aprilia."
You will cross the finish line on a Ducati. After Valencia last year you said you would have no other better opportunity to prove to Ducati that you deserve the factory team. Regardless of who wins between the two of you, finding yourself back here this weekend doesn't make it strange or sad?
"It's not that I wasn't good enough for Ducati, if I wasn't I wouldn't be here now. I think other interests came into play, I don't think they were talking in the meetings about me not being competitive. I am satisfied with the decision they made as I am satisfied with mine. I think we maintained a good relationship and you never know what might happen in the future."
The one between you and Pecco could be one of the best MotoGP rivalries in years.
"And it's nice to think about that, I've always been behind Pecco during my career. When I was coming up in Moto 3 he was coming up in Moto 2, the same when I was coming up in Moto 2 he was coming up in MotoGP. I was always behind him, and in MotoGP it took me two years to get almost to his level, and for me that's great. We have a very good relationship and I hope this will continue in the future, we'll see what happens after this weekend," he commented.
What do you think might be the key to this weekend?
"Actually I think the key has been the whole season. There is a famous phrase from a wrestler that goes 'you win the championship by training every day, fighting for the title in every race,' I think I followed that example. It's clear that something could happen this weekend that would be a game changer, but the important thing is the work done throughout the season, now it's just about bringing home the medal."
There are also those among the riders who will try to lend a hand.
"I'm not counting on anyone's help, really. I'll just try to do my weekend. I don't think I need any. As Pecco said, this year we were 10 seconds away from third place. In the end, there is a margin. Of course there are other riders who will be going strong, many want to win. This is also a problem: Marc, Enea, Acosta, Aleix... they want to win their last race of the year. Everyone who wants to win will help me lose fewer points."
You are very close to Aleix, did he give you any advice? He said he would rather help you win the title than a win for himself.
"Today I rode with him on the bike, this morning we did a couple of laps of the circuit. He is an important part of what we have achieved, he pushes me to train every day. He also gave me a couple of tips. This year, in Q2, I crashed on the second attempt and was forced to start at the back. Hopefully, I will focus on avoiding this and have a good qualifying session."
Michelin will provide 1400 tires in this GP, with seven different compounds to choose from.
"It will be the GP with the most tires available ever. It will be tricky to manage, some tires have a softer compound on the left side, so we will definitely have a lot to work on that."
The final was to be held in Valencia, a historic track that has always provided great excitement. On which circuit would you have preferred to run the final to close a season like this?
"Definitely Valencia can put on a show, it is a circuit where you have to manage the tires very little and you can give 100 percent all the time, while here you will have to manage more. But it's also a matter of atmosphere, which has always been special in Valencia. But I think it will be here too, unfortunately things have been like that this year but we will enjoy this weekend anyway."
Would you put your signature on two seventh places?
"I would put it there if it meant winning the title, but I don't think I could race to only do sixth. If I did it would be because I would have made a mistake. And if I were to finish sixth it would be because I did my best, using my head and avoiding taking excessive risks."
Pecco joked that if you won the title you would have to marry Maria. What if he wins it instead?
"We'll see what happens, the idea is there, although marriage would only formalize something we both already know. If Pecco wins instead ... I think he should invite me to his party, I know it would be incredible."
