“Well, I tried to do my best pace possible,” said Jorge Martin after finishing the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix sprint race in second place, just behind Francesco Bagnaia. The Prima Pramac rider, who qualified in second place, failed to outdo his dominant rival in the race at Assen.
Jorge Martin explained that he had met during the Sprint
some difficulties with the front of his bike, but noted improvements throughout the day, which gives him confidence for Sunday’s main race. I think I wasn’t 100%; I was losing the front a lot at turn 6 and When you lose the front end at 300 km/h, it’s not very pleasant” he added. ”
Then I would try to be really gentle in that spot, trying to have some margin so I wouldn’t fall. I think I wasted a lot of time there. Overall, on the rest of the track, I felt confident.. »
Despite his efforts, Bagnaia remained a formidable opponent. I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress from morning to afternoon and I’m much closer to him. But he always does it easier100 %,” he acknowledged Martin.
« If we make changes to improve this at
turn 6this will also help me on the rest of the track. »
Detailing the problems encountered, the Martinator explained: “ turns 6 and 12 are the points where I lose a lot. It’s not that I can’t go faster, it’s that I’m losing the front, this is the main problem. We have progressed a lot since yesterday, the bike is much more stable. This morning, or even yesterday, I didn’t lose the lead there – maybe it was shaking a little or something, but today i lost the front. »
Jorge Martin :
« we are close, but Pecco Bagnaia always does it more easily »
Martin hopes these problems are tire related: ” maybe it’s the tire, I don’t know – I hope that’s it. But at least we are closeand even in qualifying we did an incredible lap, so I’m pretty happy with the day. »
Asked about the possible link between new tire problems and performance, Martin replied: “ maybe that’s also a problem, but thinking about this morning I was with the soft rear and a very worn front and I didn’t have the problem. That’s why I think it might have been a bad front tire. »
Jorge Martin remains optimistic about his chances of improving for the main race. “ Let’s try to be optimistic, let’s try to improve and let’s try to be closer tomorrow. I don’t know if I can beat him or win because he is super strongbut I will try. » That being said, his task was further complicated by learning on Saturday evening that he had been inflicted
three penalty places on the starting grid of this Sunday of
Dutch Grand Prix …
MotoGP, Assen: Starting Grid
MotoGP, Assen: Sprint classification
Championship:
: “in the morning and yesterday I didn’t lose the front like that, I hope it’s just a tire problem”){kind=link}