Jorge Martín with no explanations for the fall: ‘It was strange; we need to understand in detail’

Jorge Martín abandoned a main race for the first time in the 2024 MotoGP season. With 15 laps to go in the Spanish GP, the Spaniard lost control of his Ducati in turn six and crashed. The Prima Pramac rider explained that he doesn’t have an explanation for the incident: ‘It is true that it was a strange crash. We analyzed it a bit and I was exactly at the same speed and braked at exactly the same point. So it was a bit strange, we need to understand it a bit more in detail‘. Before the crash, Martín was trying to maintain a consistent pace and manage the tires: ‘I was trying to be consistent in that rhythm – 1m37.9s/1m38.0s. I think it was a reasonable pace to maintain the lead at that point in the race, trying to save the rear tire a bit for the end. I was focused and confident‘. Regarding the crash, last year’s runner-up commented: ‘It is true that I didn’t expect to crash in that spot, because I went into the corner very early, I went very straight, so we need to understand it to not repeat it again, and that’s it‘. Taking too many risks wasn’t an issue, Martín assured: ‘I simply crashed very straight. Maybe there were some corners where I was pushing a bit more, but turn 6 was not one of them. I was trying to be consistent, always braking at the same point. So we need to understand well and improve for the future‘.

And #89 insisted: ‘It is true that I saw 0.2s on the pit board and saw that he [Francesco Bagnaia] was having some difficulties, but I was trying to always keep the same pace. It’s not like I attacked a bit more. Of course, I thought about attacking more after three or four laps when the tires were a bit more consistent. But at that point, I was just trying to be more consistent. That’s why I’m a bit frustrated, because if I were attacking more then I would understand. But I still don’t understand. But it’s true that Pecco was remarkable, the pace was fantastic, and I didn’t feel that 1m37.4s – maybe I could do 1m37.6s/1m37.7s, but not 1m37.4s, for sure‘.

Although he still doesn’t understand the reasons for the fall, Martín assured that he is not worried about the effects on his confidence: ‘Surely we will find the solution, we will understand the fall, so I am relaxed about it. I think we have improved a lot from last season to this season in Jerez, so that’s what I take from it. I fell while leading for ten laps. I won yesterday and was very competitive on dry track, also on wet track. So I am calm because there are still many races to go. We have to take it race by race. I don’t leave Jerez empty-handed, we got 12 points, which is not bad. So, we will improve. We still have tomorrow to improve in other areas that I think we need to work on. So, I’m not worried about anything in particular. It’s true that I’m a bit disappointed for not finishing today, but I’m very calm‘.