Jorge Martin is ready for a comeback. After the crash at Jerez de la Frontera, which allowed his direct rivals to make up for it in the Drivers’ World Championship, the leader of the standings looks forward to the Le Mans event with confidence and does so with full knowledge of the facts.
Although he crashed in Andalusia, he had speed. And this is what gives confidence to the top rider of the Pramac Ducati team. The Desmosedici GP24 is in its league and the French track sees the Reds win – even those with liveries other than red… – with worrying regularity as far as the opponents are concerned.
“I feel good,” said Jorge Martin during the drivers’ press conference on Thursday. “First of all I would like to say that in Jerez I would have liked to get on the podium with Bagnaia and Marquez, but I wasn’t able to.”
“I had a lot of confidence until the crash, but then things went the way they did. But I’m happy, because we were fast and I think we can be fast here at Le Mans too. I’ve always felt fast and I’m calm from this point of view, even if things didn’t always go the way I wanted.”
A few days ago MotoGP revealed what will be the cornerstones of the new technical regulation which will come into force in two and a half years, i.e. in 2027. Less aerodynamics, no lowering systems, 850cc engines and no longer the 1000s of today. According to Martin, these measures will allow riders to make a greater difference compared to today.
“Today the technical level is very high. So even the less good riders, even if there are no less good ones in MotoGP, can close the gap, because it’s much easier to ride these bikes”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“I think it will be very different with the 2027 bikes. I think the value of the riders will increase and the battles will be good, but I think no one can really know what will happen in 2027. So we’ll see.”
Nothing new, however, on the Pilot market front. Martin still has the goal of joining the official Ducati team and this could be the good year. Yet the competition is fierce, because there is always Enea Bastianini – current owner of the coveted saddle – and Marc Marquez.
“For me, I’m very happy with where I am, but the natural position as a Ducati family, where I started and grew throughout my MotoGP career, I think the natural move will be to go to the official Ducati team” .
“I was very close in ’22, last season I was still close until the last race. My goal is to get there, I hope to do it soon, but if I don’t succeed we’ll see what happens”, concluded Martin.
