The season MotoGP 2024 finally declared its world champion during the last race in Barcelona, thus rewarding a Jorge Martin as talented as he is deserving and endearing, facing a Francesco Bagnaia impresses with his mastery and has set the bar extremely high.
So high that it seems difficult to have such a competitive season next year, but we already said that last year and
Jorge Martin made us lie…
As usualwe report here his words during the final press conference, without the slightest formatting, even if it is translated from English.
Ladies and gentlemen, as always I welcome you to the most important press conference of the season to congratulate the 2024 MotoGP World Champion, Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing, Jorge, my congratulations! A historic moment for you and Prima Pramac Ducati, the first independent team in the MotoGP era to win the title, the first since Valentino Rossi in 2001, the fifth Spanish world champion in the premier class, with Alex Criville, Jorge Lorenzo , Marc Marquez and Joan Mir, and you, along with Casey Stoner and Pecco Bagnaia, are just one of three Ducati world champions.
First of all, Jorge, everyone in this room congratulates you warmly. With all the hard work, all the sacrifices, the dream came true today. How does it feel to hear these words, “Jorge Martin, MotoGP world champion”?
Jorge Martin : “Thank you everyone. Thanks to everyone. It's definitely a wonderful feeling, I still can't believe it. I'm in shock, I don't know what to say, the emotions are so strong, I cried a lot, so maybe now I'm a little more relaxed. I talked a lot with the media, and now it's almost an hour after the big moment, but you know, I just want to celebrate, I just want to be with my team, with my loved ones, my family, my friends. And yes, it's so moving. It's been a long journey. I think my career has not been easy, of course I had good opportunities in front of me, but I think I built them, because I work hard, I make a lot of sacrifices at home every day to try to be a better man. And yes, last season I had an opportunity, but I think I wasn't prepared to win, I wasn't prepared to sign, let's say. But this year I felt it was my year, and yes, thank you to all the people, thank you to Pramac, thank you to Ducati for giving me the opportunity to have an amazing bike for these four years, and you know, giving me the opportunity to fight until the end with an extraordinary Pecco. »
Before the race, Jorge, you had a 19 point lead in the championship. Everyone said the job was done, you couldn't lose. This increases the pressure. I mean, what were the nerves like before the race started and how did you feel in the first few laps?
“You know, the conditions were difficult and the choice of tires was not easy. There were hard ones, soft ones and medium ones. I was really scared, I looked at my opponents and I said to myself “wow, they are all good”. I mean, it was really easy to be 10th if they had a good race! The top ten had the potential to have a good race, so I was scared. I was scared, but ultimately I thought that the medium was the most conservative tire choice, let's say, and it wasn't easy, because I think it wasn't the right choice. Maybe the soft was a little more competitive, but I made do with it. I mean, I had confidence in myself, I thought that even with the worst tire I could be in the top 9 and I was really focused on the race. »
As you said, it's an incredible epic that has been going on for so many years. There were amazing celebrations with friends, family, the team, and I'm sure there will be a big party in Barcelona somewhere tonight. Tell us, Jorge, about that explosion of emotion when you crossed the finish line and knew you were world champion…
“You know, 7 laps before the end, that was the difficult moment. I was very focused today, I think that even if it had been a normal race in May, I would have finished third because Marc and Pecco were stronger. I did my best. Definitely the last seven laps were a bit more difficult, I started to remember a lot of moments. I think my whole career flashed before my eyes, and I remembered my dad every weekend, after work, for training, my mom cooking in the van when I raced Pocket Bike, and of my family, of my grandfather who is not there and who is watching from the sky. So I remembered a lot of moments, but then I refocused, trying to think in the present moment: “Jorge, you have to finish the job. Nothing’s done until you cross the finish line.” And when I crossed the finish line, you know, I started crying. D Then I was happy, then I cried again, remembering my family.
And I'm so happy that almost all of my family is there, all of my closest friends are there, all of them. So tonight will be a good night. »
Finally you can finally put your name at the top of the Champions Tower. How special will this feel?
“I mean last season, I remember when we were doing the movie with Pecco that Dorna was doing, I was looking at the trophy, but yeah, I wasn't prepared. I mean, I was scared, I was really obsessed with succeeding, but I wasn't enjoying it. This year I didn't even look at the trophy while filming, but I felt like I was going to put my name there. Today I enjoyed the race, I touched the elbow, the shoulder, as if it were a supermoto training, a simple training with a MotoGP. So I'm very happy to have taken advantage of this moment. I remember in 2018, when I won the title, I immediately told myself that I wanted another one in Moto2, and so I didn't take advantage of the moment. I think whatever happens in my future will be a gift, I don't care. For sure I will try to give my best version, I will try to win with Aprilia, but I will enjoy this moment. »
You have given us all great memories this season during an outstanding show and we congratulate you once again on winning the World Championship in 2024. Now it is time to answer questions from the media…
” Thank you. Thank you all. I want to go with my team (laughs). »
To be continued tomorrow…
MotoGP Jorge Martin
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