Moto GP
Jorge Martin Grapples with Mystery Issue After Mugello Sprint Crash, Unaware of Bastianini’s Fall
Jorge Martin expressed concern, stating, "Definitely, there's an issue that we must address before tomorrow." He also mentioned, "Wasn't aware Bastianini had an accident."
For the first time at Mugello on Saturday, Jorge Martin, who is leading the MotoGP championship, did not earn any points in a Sprint race.
The Pramac Ducati competitor, who had finished in the top three in five out of six Saturday races this season, tarnished his record by falling off his bike while in third place during the eighth lap out of eleven.
However, he sensed that it was not a typical mishap and that 'something was amiss'.
"The day started off challenging right from the beginning. I managed to achieve a quick lap for pole position, but our speed is significantly behind the leading pace," Martin shared with MotoGP.com
During the Sprint, I was confident about securing a podium spot, but I rapidly lost a significant amount of front grip. Just a few laps in, it felt as though the tire had worn out excessively.
"It's quite an odd sensation, but that's just the way things are. We have to grasp the reasons behind it and ensure significant adjustments are made upfront, otherwise, we're facing a challenging day ahead.
During the accident, I applied the brakes slightly sooner than on the previous lap. Attempting to approach the turn with caution, I reduced my speed even more because I had gone off track on that corner the lap before.
“Even in that situation, I ended up failing, which clearly indicates there's a problem we must address before tomorrow.”
Earlier, Martin had avoided repercussions after a maneuver to overtake Enea Bastianini for the second position at Turn 1 resulted in a collision. This incident caused the current Ducati team rider, whom Martin is rumored to replace in 2025, to crash and exit the race.
The FIM Officials deemed it an incident typical of racing.
"Martin mentioned, 'He passed me, veered off course, and that's when I tightened my path. I completely lost sight of him.'"
"I believe it was incredibly tight, but since he was on the outer side, that's the reason I took the inner path."
"I had no idea he had an accident until I saw it on TV."
Bastianini, who is expected to be replaced by Martin in his official team position next season, stated:
Upon noticing Jorge (Martin) pushing his limits while riding, I attempted to pass him, which caused both of us to veer slightly off course. Subsequently, he made a sharp move inside, leading to our collision.
"Regrettably, the competition concluded prematurely, which is disappointing as we possessed the necessary skills to perform admirably. I believe the mishap might have been preventable; however, the important thing now is to look ahead to the next day, confident in our ability to succeed."
Martin enters this Sunday's major Grand Prix holding a diminished 27-point lead over the current champion and Sprint victor, Francesco Bagnaia, while Gresini’s Marc Marquez narrows the gap to 32 points.
Explore Further
Recent Updates
Recent Updates
Index
Crash.Net
©1999-2024 Crash Media Group
Copying or replicating the content, images, or drawings in any manner, whether wholly or partially, is strictly prohibited.
Discover more from Automobilnews News - The first AI News Portal world wide
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.