Born in San Sebastián de los Reyes, a suburb of Madrid (Spain), Jorge Martin devoted himself to motorcycles from a very young age, thanks to the sacrifices of his parents, who were Grand Prix enthusiasts. Having gone through various promotion cups, the kid took off in 2014 by winning the Red Bull Rookies Cup, this competition which allows young drivers who are not necessarily fortunate to shine. He then obtained a place in Moto3 in the Aspar team where he teamed up with a certain Francesco Bagnaia, then joined the Gresini team with which he won his first Grands Prix and won, in 2018, the title of Moto3 world champion.
“The best on a timed lap”
Then moving to Moto2 with the Ajo team, Martin confirmed his potential, but struggled to realize it because of too frequent falls and injuries which affected his progress. “Jorge has long needed to show his talent at all costs,” explains Albert Valera, the agent who has been with him since his debut in Grands Prix. His aggressiveness still makes him the best on a timed lap today, but he has since fortunately understood that you also have to know how to be temperate. »
In April 2021, while he was making his MotoGP debut with the Pramac team, a huge fall on the Portimao circuit left him on the floor for several weeks. Foot, knee, ankle… Fractures are numerous and very painful. “It was a beginner's mistake but it almost ended my career,” remembers the Spaniard who, two weeks earlier, in Qatar, in his second premier class race, had scored his first podium. .
“Jorge wondered if it was worth continuing”
“Jorge asked himself if it was worth continuing,” confides his manager. He was in enormous pain, had lost a lot of weight… But his gladiator soul ended up taking over. » He thus won his first victory in Austria, in August, and concluded his first year in the premier class with a ninth place in the general classification. The following season proves more delicate. And while he thought he could join Bagnaia in the official Ducati team, Luigi Dall'Igna prefers Enea Bastianini. “It’s been a complicated year,” confirms Valera. Jorge wanted to show too much, he also made clumsy statements that made him seem like a pretentious and arrogant driver, which he is not at all. On the contrary, he is a boy with a big, caring heart. An example: if he made his father his assistant, beyond the sacrifices his parents made for him, it is because he wanted Angel to benefit with him from the passion they share. » In 2023, if he still makes mistakes, the Madrilenian still manages to stand up to Bagnaia until the last Grand Prix. He then only has one step left to take. He will get through it this season by finding the consistency that he has long lacked. And this despite the disappointment of having once again missed the boat to join the official Ducati team, its managers having preferred to recruit Marc Marquez in his place.
