Martin, Bagnaia, and the pressure of the world title

Already in the fight for the world crown in 2023, Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia are back at it this season, with a situation that was the opposite of that experienced twelve months earlier. In fact, it is now the Spanish rider who is just a few kilometres away from a first world title, since he has a lead of nineteen points over his Italian rival. An advantage that has diminished by a few points after this Saturday's Sprint race, won by Bagnaia, while Martín lost second place on the last lap to Enea Bastianini.

Experienced in these situations, having won his two world crowns each time at the last Grand Prix, Bagnaia believes that if there is to be pressure, it must be on the shoulders of the Pramac rider. In fact, the Italian can do nothing more than attack to the maximum and win this Sunday's Grand Prix, while Martín must be in management, so as not to finish lower than ninth place, synonymous with the title for him.

"I remember 2022 perfectly and I think Jorge is suffering a little from the pressure, but that's normal", explains Bagnaia. “I saw all weekend that he was nervous, and that’s logical. However, I think that in the race he can handle the situation very well, and he did a very good job in the Sprint. He managed to finish on the podium starting from fourth, I don’t think he will have any problems.”

The official Ducati rider also spoke about three of his four falls in 2024. The latter, according to him, were not due to an excess of attack, and these are words that could worry Martín, who must above all avoid attacking unnecessarily this Sunday... “On the other three mistakes, it was the same thing, I entered more slowly, without forcing the tires, and I lost the front. It is not easy to understand or predict because we say to ourselves that we are going to enter more slowly. In Malaysia if we compare the data, without knowing that I fell, we say to ourselves that I am going to fall in the fastest run because the front was more at the limit. Jorge, when he fell, it was also because of that. As soon as you brake a little less, you lose the front. I think it is a problem that we have solved, and from which I learned even more after Malaysia. But it remains unpredictable.”

Martin assumes his nervousness

So what does the main person concerned think about it? In his meeting with the media after the Sprint this Saturday, he did not avoid the question. Yes, he feels the pressure of this first World Champion title. MotoGP which is looming, and the last days before this grand finale have not been the easiest for the young 26-year-old Spaniard, Moto3 World Champion in 2018.

“I was quite nervous after qualifying. I hardly ate anything this Saturday! I tried to sleep a little, take a cold shower, and for the race it was fine, I had a good time. The plan is to do the same as usual on Sunday. I will try to be at 100%, and if I can finally manage, I will manage, if not I will attack, it will depend on the situation. For me it is difficult, for Pecco too, but if I can finally get this title, it will necessarily be very emotional.

I feel reassured today, I really wanted to see what it would be like in the race. When I'm on the bike, everything is more or less under control, I have my feelings which are there too. The only remaining unknown is the choice of tires for the race, I'm going to try to copy my opponent, and we'll see what it gives.

See you at 14 p.m. for the last Grand Prix of this crazy 2024 MotoGP season…

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