Moto GP
Jorge Martin Reflects on Costly Misano Pit-Stop Gamble: ‘Rolling the Dice Sometimes Isn’t Worth the Championship Risk
Jorge Martin comments on the risky decision that didn't pay off in Misano
Jorge Martin: "Taking a gamble isn't always the smartest move when you're competing for a championship."
Jorge Martin vowed to avoid repeating the risky pit-stop strategy from Sunday that cost him 19 points and affected his MotoGP world championship lead at Misano.
The victor of the Sprint was trailing closely behind the race leader and championship contender Francesco Bagnaia when the rain began to pour more heavily on the seventh lap out of twenty-seven.
Martin took a significant risk by heading directly to the pits to switch to wet tires, whereas Bagnaia and the other leading riders chose to remain on the track.
"I felt really comfortable, but then it began to pour down rain in sectors one, two, and three. Because of this, I opted to switch bikes," Martin stated.
The choice swiftly had unintended negative consequences.
Franco Morbidelli, who was in third place, fell off his bike because of the rain. However, the rain stopped shortly after, making Martin return to the pit to switch back to slick tires.
The Pramac Ducati racer ended up in 15th place, a lap behind, as Marc Marquez took advantage of the weather to snatch a shocking victory, preventing Bagnaia from earning the entire 25 points.
However, Martin’s lead in the standings has been reduced from 26 points to 7 points.
Similar to how Martin missed out because of a risky tyre choice at Phillip Island the previous year, following Bagnaia's strategy would have been the most secure choice for the championship on Sunday.
"Absolutely, taking risks might not always be the wisest decision when you're competing for a championship," Martin remarked.
"Next time, I'll follow Pecco's choice and do the same thing!"
"I've taken my lesson to heart, and now it's time to move forward."
Martin’s return was complicated by uncertainty regarding whether he was allowed to pass the riders in front since he was a lap behind.
"I wasn't sure if I could pass or not. I assumed I couldn't, so I just stayed behind, being patient… At least I managed to earn one point," he explained.
"I believe we had the potential to score higher today, but what truly matters is that we consistently give our all."
Pedro Acosta, who had experienced a fall earlier in the race, along with the Aprilia riders Maverick Vinales, Aleix Espargaro, and Raul Fernandez, as well as Yamaha's Alex Rins, were the only competitors to switch to wet tires.
Espargaro eventually withdrew from the race, while the remaining competitors completed the event a lap behind Martin, finishing at the rear of the pack.
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