“In racing, anything can happen”

For the third season in a row, the MotoGP title will be decided on the very last day of the championship. It is the 20th and final Grand Prix of the year, in its main race, which will deliver the verdict in the fight between Jorge Martín, still clear leader, and Pecco Bagnaia.

The two-time defending champion responded to his Spanish rival's first two match points, ultimately narrowing the gap between them to 19 points after his victory in Saturday's sprint race in Barcelona. A reaction which provokes the admiration of his team, however with the feeling that it comes too late given the points lost in certain incidents during the season.

“The objective was to make the championship last until the last race. Pecco and Enea had an extraordinary race,” greets Davide Tardozzi with GPOne, highlighting the second place snatched by Bastianini from Martín on Saturday.

The team manager of the official Ducati team no longer really believes in his rider's chances, having been aware for a while now that Martín is particularly tough and that the points lost previously weigh too heavily in the balance. “Jorge has the speed to win the title without problems. But for us it was important to close the championship with a victory, in order to seal an incredible, memorable season. What is important is that he is a driver and a Ducati team who will win the title on Sunday.”

“Jorge deserves to be at the head of the championship and he can manage. He showed what his attitude was at Sepang: he could manage the race, but he started it in an extraordinary way. We must recognize his merits”, adds Tardozzi. However, the Spaniard only needs a ninth place to be titled today, and that is well within his reach. “Martín, for him to finish beyond fourth place, you have to shoot him! In the race, anything can happen, but Jorge is fast. I think it won't be difficult for him to finish in the top 5 Sunday.”

The difference of 19 points between the two title contenders remains major and means that on a regular basis, Martín has no reason to worry. Sport remains sport, however, the matter has not yet been resolved. If the Spaniard were to experience a problem in the race, Bagnaia would have the opportunity to turn things around by winning or finishing second. The predictions may not be in his favor, but those who have not forgotten the twists and turns of the past remain cautious.

Gino Borsoi, team manager of Pramac Racing, is undoubtedly the first to refuse to consider that the crown is already acquired. Despite his driver's potential, the Italian is well aware that the time has come to perform. After a rather good third place in the sprint, he hopes to see Martín continue to control himself this Sunday so as not to take unnecessary risks.

“You must never think [que c’est fait] before the checkered flag”, warns Borsoi. “I congratulated him on arrival [du sprint] because he ran an intelligent race. This third place is very valuable and there are now 19 points [d’écart]. Although it seems like a lot, it's not. All it takes is one fall and Pecco winning, knowing he has the speed to get there, to make us lose the big dream that is before us.”

“Jorge is very strong mentally and there is no need to explain certain things to him anymore,” observes the manager of the private team, on the verge of winning the first MotoGP title outside of a factory structure. “Obviously we shouldn't think about fighting with Pecco, but simply about finishing the race, possibly by starting well and staying as high as possible because there can always be a disaster of some sort, even if only at the first corner, so it's better to stay away from problems.”

Only one certainty now: the awarding of the title will no longer be postponed and everything will indeed be decided this Sunday, from 2 p.m.