Jorge Martin’s Heart-Stopping Motegi Moment: How a Turn 3 Scare Halted His Japanese GP Victory Pursuit

Jorge Martin Admits to Feeling Terrified Following Late Incident in Japan MotoGP Race

Jorge Martin describes a frightening experience during the Motegi event.

Jorge Martin mentioned that he had to abandon his pursuit of a late win at the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix because an incident at Turn 3 left him extremely frightened.

Starting from 11th place on the grid, the Pramac rider surged to second position within the first three laps of Sunday's grand prix at Motegi, challenging Francesco Bagnaia, who ultimately won the race.

In the final moments of the race, Martin reduced the gap to Bagnaia to less than a second and seemed to be quicker than the official Ducati competitor, but then decided to halt his pursuit.

After the race, Martin mentioned that a significant scare towards the end prompted him to slow down, allowing him to earn 20 points and minimize the impact of Bagnaia's challenge to his lead.

"Absolutely, as I was narrowing the distance, I believed I could overtake," he mentioned.

"I noticed that Pecco was really pushing hard, as he made a couple of errors at turn 11."

"I agreed because he was really making an effort. I thought, 'Alright, let's give it our all.' Everything was managed smoothly."

"I was pushing hard, but still had things under control. However, at the third corner, I experienced a significant loss of grip at the front."

"I blocked it using my elbow. Afterward, I hesitated for about two seconds, feeling extremely nervous, and thought to myself, 'That's enough.'"

"Definitely, in terms of championship strategies, we need to consider how to make up these 20 points starting from the 11th position."

"It’s crucial to enhance performance during the qualifying sessions. When I start at the front, I can take charge and manage the races effectively."

Martin expressed, "I don't see this as a triumph. As a racer, my aim is to consistently compete for the top position."

"Starting from the rear made it challenging to pass the other racers. I probably had to rely on my tires more than Pecco did."

"I began to reduce the distance, but once I was within half a second, managing the bike became significantly more challenging."

"It was challenging to bring the bike to a halt. With 10 laps remaining, I thought, 'Alright, I'll give it another try, let's go for it.' I noticed Pecco having some trouble with braking, so I applied a lot of pressure."

"With three laps remaining, I experienced a significant event in the third corner. It signaled to me, 'Jorge, it's time to call it a day and secure those 20 points.'"

Pecco demonstrated exceptional strength and skill, particularly in handling tyres, which allowed him to perform remarkably well.

"I am optimistic about moving up from the fourth row to finish in second place, which boosts my confidence as we head to Australia, a track I perform well on."

Martin maintains a 10-point advantage in the championship as he heads into the upcoming round in Australia. He feels that he is currently "stronger" than he was during the same period in the 2023 season.

"Absolutely, it's the final push to the finish," he remarked.

"It will be challenging because Pecco is an incredible rider. However, I'm thankful to be in this position and to have the opportunity to compete as I did last year."

"However, I sense an increase in my strength. So, I'm ready to take on the challenge. In certain races, I believe I perform slightly better, while in others, Pecco seems to have the edge."

"The goal is to take it to Valencia and create an opportunity to win."

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